Inishowen star Mark Timlin to leave Brandywell

Derry City manager Kenny Shiels has confirmed that Mark Timlin is set to leave the club.

The Buncrana man has earned rave reviews for his performances for the Candy Stripes this season where he scored 12 goals with five assists but has declined a new deal at the Brandywell.

“I spoke to Mark in the last 48 hours and I’ve accepted that he won’t be coming back to Derry City,” Shiels told BBC Radio Foyle this afternoon.

“I wanted him to stay because he’s one of our top players but sometimes you can waste energy chasing lost causes.

“We’ve accepted that we will lose players and we’ll have to replace them.”

The former Ipswich Town winger has made no secret of his desire to return to play professionally in England but his most likely new destination will be Dublin with St Patrick’s Athletic believed to be leading the race for his signature.