Interest in Coughlan and Curtis from English clubs
ENGLAND BOUND: Ronan Coughlan is looking to play football in England next season. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Waterford’s top scorer Ronan Coughlan is due to next week join an English club, likely Fleetwood Town, after rejecting a lucrative offer to remain at the promoted Blues.
Coughlan - who had a three-year spell at Huddersfield Town from 2014 to 2017 - has been linked with Waterford's sister club, League One outfit Fleetwood, as well as Crewe Alexandra.
Despite Waterford's persuasion attempts, Coughlan has identified a move to the UK as his preferred choice.
A club statement issued on Thursday night read: "Despite the club’s best efforts and contract offers, the striker has reiterated his desire to play in England and we wish Ronan all the best."
Having joined Waterford from St Patrick's Athletic prior to the 2023 campaign, the Limerick native notched 37 goals in all competitions, shattering both the First Division scoring record and the all-time Waterford record for the most goals scored in a single season in the process.
The 27-year-old, fittingly, was the man on the spot to secure promotion for the club back in November, when he scored the winner in the play-off final in a 2–1 win over Munster rivals Cork City at Tallaght Stadium.
Blues boss Keith Long thanked the striker for his contribution.
“We’re disappointed to see Ronan leave but the club did everything we could to secure Ronan for next season," Long said. “He was outstanding last season, but he’s made it clear he wants to play in England again.
“Of course, we’re sorry to see Ronan go, he was excellent last season for the club but we wish him well.”
Meanwhile, Sheffield United have jumped to the top of the queue in the pursuit of Ireland U21 defender Sam Curtis.
The right-back played his 60th senior and final game for St Patrick’s Athletic in their FAI Cup final victory over Bohemians, shortly after which UK clubs could join the race when he turned 18 on December 1.
Manchester City and Chelsea were tracking the recently-crowned PFAI Young Player of the Year but moreso on the basis of signing him to one of their feeder clubs around Europe.
Sheffield United – with new assistant manager Keith Andrews centrally involved – are believed to be confident of recruiting the free agent in the upcoming January transfer window.
Fellow Premier League outfit Brighton and Hove Albion, along with Championship side, are among the Meathman’s other suitors but the Blades ticks a lot of boxes for the parties.
Regardless of whether former Ireland midfielder Andrews and his boss Chris Wilder produce the great escape by lifting the bottom side out of the relegation zone, Curtis would be offered a route into the first-team fray.
He made history as a 14-year-old in 2020 by becoming the youngest-ever debutant of Shamrock Rovers when featuring for their First Division team against Athlone Town.
St Pat’s succeeded in an audacious swoop for Sam and older brother Ben from the Hoops the following year and it wasn’t long before he was promoted to the senior set-up by Tim Clancy.
That ascent continued under Jon Daly and he played a starring role in their Cup triumph before a record crowd at Aviva Stadium.
Club progress was mirrored at international level by being fast-tracked from the Under-19s to the Under-21s last March, nailing down a regular spot in Ireland’s European Championship qualification campaign.
“I knew Sam would take to it like a duck to water and he would be walking out there believing it's the occasion he is supposed to be on,” Daly said after his tyro’s Cup final masterclass.
“It is, to be fair. He is going to have a big career wherever he goes. We will try and convince him tonight to stay on for a few years.”
Daly knew a higher calling was inevitable. St Pat’s and his other former clubs will receive FIFA compensation as his two-year contract expired at the end of November.
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