'There's an issue somewhere'
Derry City player James McClean has publicly criticized the club's performance following their exit from the Conference League. McClean insists the issue lies with management or internal structures rather than a lack of player effort.
Why it matters
High-profile player criticism of club management often signals internal instability and can impact team morale and future recruitment.
Derry City's James McClean has once more expressed his dissatisfaction with how the club are performing following their Conference League exit.
McClean was not included in the matchday squad for yesterday evening's 1-0 defeat at home to Rijeka , which concluded their European campaign, the Croatian side winning 2-0 on aggregate.
Tiernan Lynch's side - runners-up domestically in 2025 - had performed creditably in their Europa League tie against CSKA Sofia, eventually losing 5-3 on aggregate in a tempestuous tie which was marked by serious crowd trouble instigated by the visiting fans at the Brandywell.
Another tough draw in the Conference League saw them face Rijeka, conquerors of Shelbourne in last year's Europa League, and Derry's European tilt came to an end, on a night where both Shels and Bohemians progressed.
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