Ronan Coughlan agrees deal with Fleetwood

FLEETWOOD BOUND: Charlie Adam is poised to make Waterford’s top scorer Ronan Coughlan his first recruit since taking charge at English League One strugglers Fleetwood Town. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Charlie Adam has made Waterford’s top scorer Ronan Coughlan his first recruit since taking charge at English League One strugglers Fleetwood Town.

Both clubs are owned by Andy Pilley but Fleetwood were put up for sale in July once the entrepreneur was found guilty of fraud charges and sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.

Coughlan has signed an 18-month contract subject to international clearance. The 27-year-old netted 37 goals in all competitions last season breaking the First Division scoring record and became the all-time Waterford record for the most goals in a single season while helping the Blues to secure promotion.

Introducing our new No.33 🤩#OnwardTogether | @RonanCoughlan10 pic.twitter.com/gzIgFo03eW

— Fleetwood Town Football Club (@ftfc) January 3, 2024

Waterford lost Phoenix Patterson and Junior Quitirna from their 2022 team to the Cod Army 12 months ago and the one-way traffic continues with the imminent acquisition of free agent Coughlan.

The Blues felt they’d done enough with a lucrative offer to extend the contract of a player central to their promotion but his desire to inhabit the English system again overrode that temptation.

Former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Adam is in dire need of firepower to make a punt at avoiding the drop. The 38-year-old last week succeeded the sacked Lee Johnson.

Having joined Waterford from St Patrick's Athletic prior to the 2023 campaign, Limerick native Coughlan notched 37 goals in all competitions over 2023, 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.

Meanwhile, as the January transfer window intensifies, former Ireland U21 attacker Finn Azaz is heading to Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough.

Azaz has pushed his claims for a senior Ireland call-up for the March friendlies with another spellbinding stint on loan at Plymouth Argyle and that has prompted Boro to table a £2.5m bid with his parent club Aston Villa.

Bristol City and Southampton were also chasing the in-demand 23-year-old following his seven goals and five assists for the Championship newcomers but all going to plan he's due to finalise his move to the north-east.

St Patrick's Athletic confirmed that Adam Murphy has joined Championship side Bristol City for an undisclosed international training compensation fee. Adam initially joined our U15s in January 2020, before progressing through their Academy & signing his first professional contract in July 2021. Murphy made his first team debut aged 16 in February 2022, coming on as a sub against Sligo Rovers before making his first senior start on his 17th birthday against Dundalk in April 2022. 

The midfielder made 40 senior appearances for The Saints, scoring three times & was part of our 2021 & 2023 FAI Cup winning squads. His final appearance for the club saw him come off the bench in last year’s final against Bohemians at Aviva Stadium. While at the club, Murphy (now 18) completed his Leaving Cert, combining his education with full-time football & was capped by Ireland from U15 level right through to his U21 debut late last year. The club thanked Adam for his contribution over his four seasons at St Pat’s & wished him all.