By:
Graeme Hanna
Tiernan Lynch revealed he has been in dialogue with James McClean for the past 12 months, as he detailed his satisfaction in bringing the 36-year-old home to Derry City.
James McClean was confirmed as a Derry City player, for the second time in his career, on Saturday evening, having left the Brandywell in 2011 to play for Sunderland.
Lynch was effusive in his praise for McClean, as he described the transformative effect he believes the veteran will have on the dressing room.
There is a feeling of unfinished business on the player’s part, determined to make his presence felt on and off the pitch, and his manager is relishing what will unfold.
James McClean to lift Derry City to another level
“I’ve been going back and forth with James now for the past 12 months,” Lynch told the Derry Journal.
“When you talked to him on the phone, the passion that he has for the city and for this football club (was clear) and now he’s able to do something about that.
“James coming into our changing room will definitely bring this to another level.
“The standards, not just that he sets for himself but the standards that he will set for the players around him, will bring us to a whole new different level. I think the best teams in the world have been proven to be player-led and I think this will make a huge difference.”
"Home is where the heart is" 💬
James McClean on his return to @derrycityfc #BBCFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Nq7DGwdtGj
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) January 17, 2026
This season, Derry and Lynch will have not one, but two McCleans with the brothers together for the first time in football, following Patrick McClean signing for Derry City for the third time.
The former Larne boss was keen to stress this dynamic and their importance for the Candystripes in the weeks and months ahead.
“I’m delighted. Listen, I think it’s really important that we talk about James and Patrick together. I think they’ve been two brilliant signings for us and the club can take great credit for making sure they happen.
“I think when you cut both of them they would bleed red and white and that’s what we need in the changing room if we’re to have any success in the season ahead.
“I think you have people there who are willing to put their neck on the line and this club and this city means everything to them.”
Tiernan Lynch would not be drawn on expectations or targets for the season, when asked about expectations on his squad.”
We’re never happy, says Tiernan Lynch
Given their performance last season, and the number and quality of players brought to the club for the new campaign, they will rightly have to shoulder the expectation of being title contenders.
Lynch was boxing clever, but he will have his own demands and internal dialogue for the squad.
He was keen to stress Derry will strive to be as successful as they can be, and they will do that by raising the bar and pushing each other upward.
Derry City are on track to take their number of new signings toward double figures but the manager commented that “We’re never happy” and “We’re always people who want to strive for perfection,” as he confirmed the intention to add to his defensive options.
The Candystripes are currently in Malaga for a training camp, where they are also expected to play some warm-up games ahead of the President’s Cup clash against Shamrock Rovers on Saturday, January 31.
Image credit: derrycityfc/X
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