Players pledge futures to Bohs

Bohemians manager Gareth Farrelly's preparations for next season have taken a turn for the better following the defection of three key players to arch rivals Shelbourne.

Farrelly lost the services of leading scorer Glen Crowe, winger Bobby Ryan and defender Colin Hawkins for 2005 when the trio signed on for the champions.

But club captain Kevin Hunt, defensive midfielder Stephen Rice and goalkeeper Matt Gregg yesterday pledged their futures to Farrelly and the Gypsies.

All three were out of contract at the end of the season, but Hunt has signed a four-year deal, while Gregg and Rice each signed new three-year contracts.

"I'm delighted to stay,” Hunt said. “I never wanted to go anywhere else. I was offered more money by a couple of other clubs, but I never wanted to move.

"People said that I was delaying because I was looking for more money. I'm on the same money as before. What changed was that Bohs gave me the extra year which was important to me at this stage of my career."