Reynolds and Bohs tried everything to avoid turning Mousset loose

Bohemians struggled to get ex-Premier League striker Lys Mousset fit, admits manager Alan Reynolds

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025 - 16:00

John Fallon

Alan Reynolds insists Bohemians did everything in their power to avoid the League of Ireland becoming the latest brief stopover for ex-Premier League striker Lys Mousset.

The capture of a 29-year-old who’d scored against Manchester United and Arsenal seemed a coup in February when his deft flick on his debut helped create the winner against deadly rivals Shamrock Rovers.

All 33,208 fans at Lansdowne Road could appreciate the striker’s ability but over the five months since Reynolds has witnessed the entire gamut that sticks journeyman status to the French native’s reputation.

Bit-part roles would follow, amounting to game-time of 321 minutes over nine appearances. His winner off the bench in May against Sligo Rovers proved to be his only goal and his last appearance.

Injuries which hampered his career in England and Germany continued in Ireland, but it wasn’t just his body that let him down during his latest pitstop.

“It's probably one that everyone could see happening - let's be honest,” confessed Bohs boss Reynolds.

“He's struggled to settle and we've struggled to get him fit and on the pitch.

“Look, we tried everything with him. All the staff did. It's just he picked up niggles and things like that which slowed it down all the time.

“It just hasn't worked. And he had a conversation with us to say: ‘Look, I think it's the right time for us to go’.

“One thing for sure, if he wants to play football, he needs to get fit.”

Mousset’s anticipated departure wasn’t the only reason Bohs pounced for Douglas James-Taylor. He was a revelation on loan at Drogheda United from parent club Walsall but rejected offers from both Trivela-owned clubs to instead join the Gypsies.

The new recruit will be at St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night donning the new blue jersey launched in association with Oasis. Bohs enlisted ‘Modfather’ Paul Weller for the promotional ad, their latest innovative initiative to bolster both profile and merchandise revenue.

All of which facilitates Reynolds strengthening his squad in the window opened on Tuesday. They sit joint-second with Derry City in the table, 11 points off leaders Shamrock Rovers but with two games in hand.

“I think it's great for the club and the league,” says the Waterford man, admitting he hasn’t yet acquired a ticket to see Oasis in Dublin next month.

“Our club has to try those initiatives because there's no sugar daddy there to keep funding. The more media attention the league gets, the better.

“It does help me. How much it will help remains to be seen when I go and knock on the door looking for more players.”

His pot could swell too if Bohs receive an acceptable offer for James Clarke. The attacker has been linked with a move to join the Irish legion at Grimsby Town but no bid has been received.

With the player unlikely to sign a contract extension, Bohs would have to cash in during this window to avoid losing him for free in January.

“There's interest in James and I'd love to keep him but he probably has ambitions of playing across the water,” explained Reynolds.

“There’s no buyout clause and he’ll be a Bohs player unless something changes.”