SHAMROCK ROVERS have officially parted company with striker Mark Quigley after thrashing out a settlement to cancel his contract.

Quigley had a year left on his deal at Tallaght but was keen to leave following a disappointing season when he slipped out of Trevor Croly's plans.

The player has reached agreement with the Hoops on a fee that makes him a free agent and will now consider his options for next term, with former club St Patrick's Athletic and Roddy Collins' Derry City keeping tabs on his situation.

Rovers also confirmed yesterday that Richie Ryan will be plying his trade in Canada in 2014. The summer addition had a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave and he has signed up with Ottawa Fury after emigrating for personal reasons.

Meanwhile, the Hoops' plans to field a team in next year's First Division should become clearer this week, with further discussions planned with the FAI.

FRINGE

The terms that would allow the club to enter a development side in the second tier have yet to be agreed, with Rovers keen to allow fringe first-teamers to line out in the First Division if they're not required by Croly on a particular week.

Facilitating that arrangement is central to the deal, a situation which could see players who sit on the first-team bench on Friday night togging out at First Division level the next day if the fixtures fall that way.

The Hoops hope to recruit promising youngsters and give them experience with the development team.

Elsewhere, Cork City veteran Neal Horgan will juggle work commitments to stay at Turner's Cross for another year. Horgan, a solicitor, will play part-time for new boss John Caulfield, a former team-mate.

"I think John will bring a spirit like there was when I was coming to watch City in the '80s and the early '90s," said the defender.

Irish Independent