St Patrick's Athletic manager Liam Buckley firmly believes that signing Mark Quigley is not a risky investment after reuniting the 28-year-old with his former club.

Quigley rejoined Pat's on Friday, four years after leaving them for Bohemians -- the first of five moves he has made in as many seasons. Yet even though he left the last of those clubs -- Shamrock Rovers -- under a cloud, Buckley (below) had no hesitation bringing the striker into his championship-winning panel.

"The bottom line is we have a quality player," said Buckley. "When Mark is on his game he has added something to every club he has been at. At Sligo, I remember too well, he was brought into the side after Danny North got injured and was an integral part of their title-winning campaign. When he's on his game, he is very, very good.

"For whatever reason it did not work out for him at Rovers. But what happened there is not my business. I'm just glad to have him back at this club, where he did extremely well in his first spell. He has a challenge to get into the team here but he will be an important addition."

Securing Quigley's signature wasn't straightforward, though. Dundalk and Sligo also spoke to him but even though Derry City were linked with the 28-year-old, their manager Roddy Collins maintains he was never interested.

"I've signed two players -- Enda Curran and young Rod (his son, Roddy Collins Jnr) from Athlone but I've no desire to add anyone else from within the League of Ireland," insisted Collins.

"No one else will be a good fit. That included Mark Quigley, who is a great lad and who will suit Pat's but would not suit us. By the end of this week, I should have some news about new signings. I could sign 10 players tomorrow if I wanted to -- but what is the point in getting 10 bad players in?

"My record in the transfer market is good. Paddy McCourt, Kevin Hunt, Glen Crowe, Brian Shelley, Simon Webb, Quigley and Dave Mooney were all brought into the league by me. The next generation of McCourts and Crowes are what I am chasing."

Collins, meanwhile, is one of six men shortlisted for the prestigious Airtricity/SWAI Personality of the Year award along with Buckley, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny, Dundalk midfielder Richie Towell and St Pat's players Anto Flood and Killian Brennan.

Irish Independent