Derry boss backs Declan Devine to bounce back

Ruaidhri Higgins has backed Declan Devine to bounce back after he left his position as Bohemians manager earlier this week.

Devine, who worked with Higgins for a number of years at Derry City, was due to lead Bohemians out against his old club tomorrow night at Dalymount Park. But, following successive defeats, to Drogheda United and Shelbourne, the Dublin club decided to make a change at the top, with Pat Fenlon stepping in until a new full-time manager is appointed.

Devine, who won the FAI Cup as Derry City manager in 2012, came so close to replicating that achievement with Bohs, only to lose last season’s final to St. Patrick’s Athletic.

“I've obviously got a lot of time and respect for Declan,” Higgins said. “I know him since I was a very, very young lad and he's been good to me for a long period of time. It's never good, it's never nice to see managers lose their jobs, and I think it's very, very early in the season. I know how football works, it's a cut-throat, ruthless industry and I feel for him but I'm sure he'll bounce back and kick on again in his career.”

Higgins is well aware of the impact a change in management can make on players, and is wary of the ‘new manager bounce’ which seems to inevitably follow.

“I absolutely see it everywhere, right throughout the world - when there's a change in the dugout it seems they create a response from a group of players that it's happened to so we'll have to be ready for that,” he acknowledged.

“But to be fair when you analyse both matches and you look back, it wasn't like they had downed tools. The players were giving absolutely everything for him and I mean that. We spoke about it as staff, it's not like you're getting a group of players who are suddenly going to start being fully committed because they were, they were running hard, they were working hard, they just weren't getting a rub of the green.

“They lost last week to Shelburne and I know the scoreline tells you it was 2-0 but there was nothing in the game, absolutely nothing in the game. Bohs are a good side, with a lot of good players and a deep squad actually so we'll have to be ready.”

‘Baffling’

The decision to remove Devine from his position comes very early into the new season, and Higgins admits he struggles to see the reasoning behind it.

“I just think football's gone that way, hasn't it? It’s a couple of bad results and get him out the door, a couple of good results, he's great,” he continued.

“I find it baffling to be honest, just the way it's gone and if you look at the clubs who have believed in their managers have actually reaped the benefits of it.

WHO'S YER MAN?!. . . . Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins 'photobombs' this photo of cast members Brian Hasson, Maureen Wilkinson and Spasie McGilloway on Tuesday night. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

"If you look at Shamrock Rovers being the best example, Stephen Bradley was appointed I think in the summer of 2016 and it took them 3-4 years before they won their first trophy and that was the FA Cup and then they've got the benefits of that continuity.

“I just find it amazing that a couple of results and you’re away but that's a world that we're living in.”

Higgins has experienced some good nights at Dalymount Park over the years, and is well aware of Derry City’s good record there. Unbeaten in six visits to Dalymount, he is hoping his team can continue to impress on their fine start to the new season.

“As long as I can remember we have a good record,” he agreed. “That doesn't mean to say it won't change on Friday, we have to go down there and give absolutely everything because I would imagine it would be a hostile atmosphere. It's a really good ground to play your football on but if you're not prepared right and if you don't approach the game properly, you're going to end up with egg in your face so it's important that we go down full of intent and a real determination to pick up three points.”

‘City Til I Die’

Meanwhile, Higgins was an interested spectator at Tuesday night’s showing of ‘City Til I Die’, which examined the relationship between different generations of Derry City supporters.

“It was brilliant actually and it was really well put together and very inventive,” he said. “Not that I need any reminder of the history of the club but it's a reminder to everybody about what the club means to the community here and when you've got a good team going you can feel the energy around the place.

“I talk about it quite regularly to be honest I think what gives me immense pride and satisfaction is seeing elderly men, women, middle aged men, women, young boys and girls walking through the area with their stuff on and it just gives you unbelievable pride that you're the one sort of heading it up really and trying to drive the club forward. And if we can give them people really good days then it's all worth all the sacrifice and hard work all worthwhile.”