As Premier League clubs stood firm against the rising English tide of euro scepticism, there was not a lot of news for wantaway Irish footballers yesterday, with defender Shane Duffy and striker Kevin Doyle the only players from these parts to exchange employers before the transfer window shut.
Duffy, whose progress at Everton had really halted a couple of seasons back, finally seemed to accept the inevitable yesterday and moved down a division to Blackburn Rovers. The clubs agreed a fee believed to be in the region of €650,000 for the 22-year-old centre half with around twice as much again believed to be up for grabs in terms of performance related add-ons.
Kevin Doyle later moved to Crystal Palace on a season-long loan, with the player doing his work on the move from the Irish squad base in Portmarnock.
Both he and Shay Given, who has made no secret of his desire to get away from Aston Villa for first-team football, but who didn’t manage it yesterday, remained with the Irish squad last night.
Two Irish managers were transferred out yesterday, though, with Dubliners Joe Dunne and Graham Kavanagh dismissed by League One side Colchester United and league two club Carlisle United.
