Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan is targeting at least three new players in the summer transfer window.
Given Harps’ financial constraints, the Harps Board will be unable to give Horgan a warchest to spend on players, but Horgan remains hopeful of some new acquisitions.
Harps have lost Thomas McMonagle and Michael Funston from their first team squad in recent weeks and there are gaps to plug following those departures.
Pascal Millien has not yet featured for Harps having signed in March and, although Harps remain unclear as to his availability for Friday night’s game against Shamrock Rovers, the Haiti international isn’t far off being given the green light.
Horgan and his assistant, Paul Hegarty, have been working hard over the last few weeks to identify possibly new signings.
“We need to get a minimum of three to add to our squad and we need quality,” Horgan said.
“There is no point taking someone in who is no better than what we have.
“We have players in mind, but it is easy to have them in mind. To convince and encourage them to come in might be more difficult.”
As regards the positions he has in mind, Horgan is looking for another midfielder, a wide player and a covering defender, but added: “If we have someone in any position we’ll take them.”
Horgan is unsure whether he will be able to extend Ciaran O’Connor’s loan from Dundalk until the end of the season.
O’Connor’s deal runs out at the end of June.
Horgan said: “It won’t be my decision. We are hopeful that we will be able to keep him, but it is a question of whether Dundalk need him or not.”
Horgan has been forced at times, particularly due to a raft of injuries within his ranks, to call upon some of the club’s under-19s, but the Harps boss appears reluctant to give them their head in the Premier Division at the minute.
He said: “We have taken a few of them in, but they have a bit to go. A couple of them have done quite well. It is a massive step. From the under-19 league to the Premier Division is a huge gap to bridge. Some of them will bridge it, but it will take time.”
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