No pressure on Derry City's Higgins according to billionaire Chairman

Chairman Philip O’Doherty, who sold his engineering business for almost $2bn, has placed his faith in the rookie boss

18 February 2022; Derry City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins before the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Dundalk and Derry City at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Derry City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins is under no pressure to deliver instant success, with billionaire Chairman Philip O’Doherty setting the manager a minimum target for European qualification in his first full year at the helm.

Higgins managed that after succeeding the sacked Declan Devine in April, lifting them from the threat of relegation to fourth in the table by the final day. St Patrick's Athletic's penalty shoot-out win over Bohemians in the FAI Cup final sealed Derry's place in the Conference League.