Keeper Ferry set to move to Drumahoe

Ferry is likely to be released by Coleraine, as the Bannsiders look set to re-sign Michael Doherty, who played his final game for Stute last weekend, but Ferry may not be the only new face at Drumahoe.

Kee confirmed that he hopes to sign Peter Bradley, if the defender can secure his release from Scottish League Two side Annan Athletic.

“I spoke to Oran Kearney (Coleraine manager) and he has told me that they are happy enough to release Eugene and having spoke to Eugene he is happy enough to come to us,” he said.

“Eugene just wants to play football, he knows the importance of playing and because he has a job, he’s happy enough to come into our wage structure.

“He’s at the age now where he has been a number two for a lot of years, but he now knows the benefit of playing regularly since moving to Coleraine.”

The 26-year-old who celebrated his birthday yesterday (Tuesday) is likely to go straight into the Stute starting line-up.

“He ticks a lot of boxes for us and while I know all positions are specialists, goalkeeping is even more so, because you can only have one goalkeeper on the pitch, but Eugene fits
our profile.

“He’s still young enough even though he has a bit of experience, he’s young, hungry, keen to learn and that’s the type of player we are looking to sign.

“I also feel we have a good team of coaches and staff at the club that can help him to progress.

“It will be now up to Eugene to develop a relationship with Kevin McKinney, who’s the goalkeeping coach.

“Peter can play at either left-back or left sided centre-back. He was with Annan Athletic, but he wants to come home, so if he gets his release then hopefully we can sign him.”

Kee also confirmed that if Bradley does make the move then someone may leave the club and discussions this week with a few of his current players may take place before the transfer window shuts next Monday.

“I will probably speak to some players this week, because the whole dynamic of the club has changed,” he added.

“We had a smaller squad last year and there was more opportunity to play in the first team, but this season we have a bigger squad and it has been difficult for some players and because of that there is one or two that I will have
to speak.

“There are one of two players who I don’t feel are ready to play yet, now they might be ready in 12 weeks time, six weeks time or six months time, it all depends how they approach the training and all the other stuff.

“I can guarantee those players games maybe in the youth team or Seconds team, but I can’t with the first team, but if that’s not enough for them then it’s going to be a problem.”

The Drumahoe man feels that parents behind the scenes is also making his job harder.

“I think the difference personally 10 or 12 years ago I wasn’t dealing with parents in the back round as well, filling their sons head with stuff.

“Years ago I was dealing with the likes of Graeme Philson, John Quigg, John McGarvey, Raymond McGuiness and Adrian Creane and I was dealing with them as men, now I’m dealing with boys, who’s parents in the back round are telling them that they are best thing since sliced bread and they give them the wrong information.

“The problem then is that the kid gets confused because they don’t know who to trust, they want to trust you, but at the same time they’ll always go with their parents over the manager.”

An emotional Doherty played his last game for the Waterside men and Kee knows if Ferry signs he has a hard act to follow.

“Michael has been a great servant to us for the last few years,” he stated.

“He help getting us up last year and there’s no question that he’s going to be a hard act to follow.

“He’s playing at the top of his game so credit to Coleraine, they are getting a quality keeper who is back to his best.”