Change of season takes its toll

By Aidan Fitzmaurice

Feel the squeeze
The top two sides in last season's Premier Division, Bohemian FC and Shelbourne FC, might have squads made up almost exclusively of full-time players, but the pressure on the likes of Shamrock Rovers FC, Cork City FC and Longford Town FC to add more full-timers - usually young players - means the older, part-time footballer is squeezed out.

Conflict of interests
Many part-time players also fear that the change in the Irish calendar - from the traditional August-to-April season to the new April-November campaign - will demand too much of their time and have a negative effect on family life. Players, especially part-timers, are faced with the dilemma of missing out on a summer family holiday to devote more time to the game.

Time to go
Already, a player with one of the league's major clubs is struggling to get a new contract because he has booked a summer holiday for his wife and children when the league will be in progress. And because of the new season structure, and of course old age, some players have, not surprisingly, decided to retire

Change of career
One is St Patrick's Athletic FC midfield player Martin Russell, a 35-year-old veteran of clubs in England, Northern Ireland and his native Dublin, who has ended his playing career to move into coaching. Likewise Gavin Dykes, also 35. He spent most of his playing days with Sligo Rovers FC, but having finished the 2002/03 season with first division side Kildare County FC, the defender has quit to accept a coaching role with the club.

Retirement plans
Also stepping down is one of Ireland's longest-serving players, 37-year-old striker Jonathan Speak, who made his Dundalk FC debut in 1984. He was player-manager of Finn Harps FC in the season just ended but is planning to retire from playing and will also discuss his managerial future after they failed to make the promotion play-offs.

No way back
The former Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers favourite Eoin Mullen, 36, first stopped playing after captaining Drogheda United FC to the first division title in 2002. The eight comeback appearances he made last term for another second-tier side, Dublin City FC, are likely to be his last.

Management prospects
Another player-manager, 39-year-old Paul Doolin of University College Dublin FC, hoped to hang up his boots last season but was forced to wait because of injuries in the UCD squad. The Dubliner is not expected to reappear next term. That is also the case for Shelbourne's Pat Fenlon, a comparative youngster at 33, who turned out just once in 2002 and now wants to concentrate on managing.

Title chance
Not everyone over the age of 30 is headed for the retirement home, however. Tony O'Connor, 36, is one of only two Bohemians players with full-time jobs outside football - he runs a jewellery business in Dublin. Yet O'Connor had a key role in the club's Premier Division championship success and should be around as the Gypsies look to hold on to their league title.

Holding back the years
Paul Osam, 35, missed just four league games for St Patrick's last time out despite a history of injuries and a full-time job outside football, and should be a major figure for the Saints next season. Meanwhile, Liam Coyle, who belied his 34 years to score the winning goal for Derry City FC in the FAI Cup final against Shamrock Rovers, will also strike a blow for the old-timers by prolonging his career by another 12 months.