DUNDALK HAVE STRENGTHENED their squad by announcing two experienced signings today.
The SSE Airtricity League champions, who are set to earn €6 million thanks to their run in Europe, have brought in free agents Dean Shiels and Alan Keane.
Midfielder Shiels, a Northern Ireland international, joins having left Rangers in the summer.
The 31-year-old, who is the son of Derry City boss Kenny, made 42 appearances for the Glasgow club last season as they won the Scottish Championship.
“Delighted to have signed for the club,” Shiels told Dundalkfc.com. “It’s a good club here and you can see with the way they have done in Europe they are progressing nicely.
“I want to win things. I have won trophies in Scotland and Dundalk have won trophies over the last couple of years so that’s what I have come here for. I want to win as many things as possible and the lure of European football helped too.
“I used to live with Stephen O’Donnell at Arsenal for a few years so I know him quite well and that helps but I am looking forward to it. I have heard nothing about good things about the club and the league so I can’t wait to get started.”
Meanwhile, Keane, also 31, comes out of retirement after calling time on his career back in February.
The ex-Galway United and Sligo Rovers full-back won the Premier Division title as well as three FAI Cups and the Setanta Sports Cup during a six-year spell with the Bit O’Red.
“I am very happy to have signed for the club,” said Keane. “It’s a great place to be around at the moment. You could see with the publicity that they got in Ireland that they are a club going places so I was pleased to get the call.
“Stephen Kenny can be a very persuasive man! But it was only a club like Dundalk that could have got me out of retirement. A club at the top with trying to win the league again and possibly the cup with the European games to come it’s great.
It’s going to be exciting and hectic but looking forward to the challenge. It’s a good place to be and to have the chance to win the league again for me is great. We need to win the league again to progress and have nights like this week.
“That’s the target and hopefully we can end up with trophies and a good European campaign at of the season. We have to focus on Wexford Youths now and get back to the bread and butter.”
Dundalk will learn their group opponents for the Europa League tomorrow afternoon before they meet Wexford Youths away in the league later that evening.
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