By:
Mark Hendry
Stephen Bradley admits he accepts Shamrock Rovers’ reputation of being a “selling club”.
The Irish coach, 41, was discussing Shamrock’s decision to sell Josh Honohan ahead of the new Premier Division campaign.
The 24-year-old defender agreed a £500,000 deal with Lincoln City to move to the EFL in January.
And despite Rovers not wishing to sell their star man, Bradley acknowledges that it was a move they had to sanction.
For the head coach he has always been about transparency and openness when it comes to his side signing players.
One key selling point to any new recruit has always been about progression and the stepping stone element involved.
Stephen Bradley admits Shamrock Rovers ‘always a selling club’
So when a decent bid arrived for Honohan, his boss knew it was only a matter of time until the deal would be done and the player would depart.
“Look at our history,” he said. “Our history tells you that. Why have we made so much money in selling players?
“Because we were willing to do business.”
“Every club in the world is a selling club. Every club in the world is a selling club.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se8uC4VJEnI
“There’s no club in the world that doesn’t sell players. Real Madrid is probably the exception.
“You have to understand where you are in the food chain. Does €500,000 make or break our season off the pitch?
“No. It’s not about that.
“You look at what we bought Josh for, you look at what we sold him for. That’s good business.
“When you start thinking you’re too big to do good business, it’s your downfall.
“It might not be on that one but it will be down the road.”
It, for Bradley, has always been about that.
Why Shamrock sold Josh Honohan
He was asked at full-time after Shamrock beat Hamrun Spartans in the Conference League if he would like to finally get to a spot where the club don’t have to sell their key men.
However, again, he was pragmatic about it.
Bradley knows Rovers will always be a selling club, such is the model built and nature of the game.
“Look at the players we’ve sold throughout years. If we have them here, we’re much better team,” he said.
“That’s obvious but that’s not part of the plan, part of the business model.
“I’m quite comfortable with that. There’s zero issues for that. We’re all on the same page with that.”
Honohan will make the move to English football with League One Lincoln when the window opens.
The Imps currently sit third in their division and are pushing for promotion.
The defender bid his farewells on Thursday after his side won their Conference League tie.
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