120 players look for new clubs

SIMON MADDEN, who captained Dundalk last season, has offered a glimpse of the uncertainty facing virtually every League of Ireland footballer as their union, the PFAI, yesterday released an initial list of 120 players actively seeking new clubs.

Despite playing every minute of every competitive game for Dundalk last season, right-back Madden is now on the dole awaiting offers of a new contract. As PFAI general secretary Stephen McGuinness outlined, Madden is just one of over 90% of domestic players whose one-season deal ended last month.

It’s a list that includes newly crowed PFAI Player of the Year, Eamon Zayed, the league’s 22-goal top scorer with Derry City last season, who could play for Libya in the African Cup.