Derry City have no need to revamp squad we're thrilled with: Ruaidhrí Higgins

Daniel Kelly has joined Derry City from Dundalk

Derry City boss Ruaidhrí Higgins believes he has laid solid foundations to his squad over the last number of years, meaning he doesn’t have to be busy in the transfer market.

The Candystripes, who start pre-season training early in January, have only added winger Daniel Kelly and it’s thought they are looking to add another Dundalk man to their squad.

City are believed to be in talks with the Oriel Park men for striker Pat Hoban, who is thought to be surplus to requirements at the Lilywhites, but as the 32-year-old is still under contract, Stephen O’Donnell’s side will be looking for some compensation, or possibly even a player exchange.

It’s believed Dundalk have pinpointed Derry’s top scorer from the 2023 season Jordan McEneff as the man they want, even on loan.

For Higgins, he’s happy with his squad and expects only a few new additions to his changing room.

“I’ve gone on record saying there won’t be wholesale changes, far from it,” he insisted. “We’ve built a squad over the last two years we’re extremely happy with. We feel one, or maximum two, will take us to the next level.

“We were fortunate over the last year or two in the off-season that players we were interested in were out of contract and we were able to attract them here.

“The big thing for us is keeping people fit and adding one or two that will give us the X-factor.

“But players want to be part of winning dressing rooms and clubs that are competing at the top end of the table. We’ve worked unbelievably hard and with the full support of the chairman and the board we’ve got to this point.

“If a one-club city is doing well then people get attracted to it. Daniel Kelly for example loved that idea. He tasted it at