BOHEMIANS HAVE BEEN busy preparing for next season and this evening announced the arrival of seven players.
The North Dublin club had a difficult campaign in 2016 and finished eighth in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table under Keith Long.
A shake-up of the coaching staff sees former Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers boss Trevor Croly brought in as assistant manager while former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Darren Kelly will take the goalkeeping coach duties.
“We’ve freshened things up a bit by bringing in a new backroom team,” said Long. “But I’d like to thank Graham O’Hanlon and Fred Davis for all their service to the club over the last few years and I also wish Ger McDermott well in his new role with the FAI having been the club’s fitness coach in 2016.
“I’m delighted to have both Trevor and Darren on board and look forward to working with them both.”
In terms of new signings, striker Dinny Corcoran returns for his third spell at Dalymount Park after spells with Sligo Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic.
Defender Rob Cornwall comes in from rivals Shamrock Rovers, while wideman Kaleem Simon and midfielder Phillip Gannon were most recently on the books at Longford Town.
19-year-old midfielder Fuad Sule joins from the Saints’ U19s and Shelbourne’s Player of the Year Jamie Doyle has also agreed to come on board.
Goalkeeper Greg Murray, who was previously at Bohs as Dean Delany’s back-up, is another player to make the switch from Shels.
“We’ve a lot of new faces and we’re confident we can get the best out of them,” added Long.
“It’s going to be a challenging year. But it will be an exciting one too – there are good characters in the dressing room.
We’ve kept a lot of experience from last year too – we have a very experienced back five. Other clubs have increased their spending, so we know it’s not going to be easy.
“But we have targeted young players who we feel we can help reach their potential and we hope to sign one or two more.
“The players we’ve brought in are not household names. But it’s a youthful squad with potential and character.”
Those acquisitions — as well as nine of last year’s team re-signing and the promotion of three from the U17/U19 sides — brings the current first team squad to 19.
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