Stephen Bradley says Shamrock Rovers have shown their intent ahead of the 2017 season by their re-signing yesterday of Ronan Finn, a player he regards as the best midfielder in the League of Ireland.
Finn, who turns 29 today, leaves champions Dundalk to return to Tallaght Stadium on a three-year contract with manager Bradley also announcing him as club captain.
In his previous stint at Rovers, Dubliner Finn won the league in 2011 and was part of their groundbreaking qualification for the group stages of the Europa League that season.
He joined then champions Dundalk ahead of the 2015 season, becoming an integral cog in a side that won two further league titles and an FAI Cup along with this season’s historic European campaign.
“He was our number one target, if we could get him,” said Bradley.
“We didn’t know whether we could as Dundalk were flying in Europe and we didn’t know whether he was going to be a goer.
“Stephen [McPhail, Rovers’ sporting director] went and did the work and met Ronan a number of times and explained the project, and then I met Ronan.
“We still weren’t sure whether he was going to come or not because, financially, we were blown out of the water by Dundalk.
“We were thinking, ‘well, he has everything there: financially; he’s winning things’. But then Ronan made the phone call and said ‘I want to come’. Once he did that it was done.
“I want to win the league. And with signings like Ronan, that shows our intent to do that.”
Midfield was an area in which Bradley felt Rovers were noticeably weak last season. In addressing that, Finn becomes the sixth midfielder to move to Tallaght this close season along with David McAllister, Ryan Connolly, Roberto Lopes, Paul Corry and Darren Meenan.
Another level
“His game over the last two years has gone to another level,” added Bradley of Finn. “It was a no brainer. He was the first one I wanted in that position.
“If you look at him, he’s box to box; he scores goals; he makes tackles; he defends. He’s the complete midfielder.
“He’s at an age now when he really is in his peak years and that’s why we are so happy to get him in.”
Finn stressed it wasn’t an easy decision to leave Dundalk.
“The success I had up there has been brilliant,” said Finn. “It’s such a fantastic squad and the European adventure was unbelievable.
“But I’m looking at a situation here where I can see what is being built.
“I’m in a position where I think I can offer Shamrock Rovers a part of my life where I think that I have matured as a player. I’m at a great age. I think that I’ve learned a lot with Dundalk in the last two years and now I can see the massive potential at this club.
“I was previously at this club for four years and had great times here and I think that I left at the right time and was successful at Dundalk.
“Now, I’m coming back at the right time again. It was a massive decision for me and I took my time. It was not something that I made lightly, but I made the right decision in the end. I’ve left Dundalk on good terms and I’m looking forward to pushing on here.”
Finn admitted his decision took Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny by surprise.
“I had to be very respectful in how I did it,” said Finn.
“I’m that type of person that you go about your business in the right manner and I just tried to explain my position, that this was the way it was and the decision that I was making for my career.
“The offer here is a very good one and I have a three-year deal which allows me to plan for the future and gives me the platform to push on into the latter stage of my career.”
