STAYING POWER

Doc hopes to retain rather than sell as Drogs bid to last Euro course

- BY GARRY DOYLE

KEVIN DOHERTY quite rightly considers his Drogheda United team to be one of the best in the country.

FAI Cup champions last season, in the hunt for Europe this term, they've established themselves as Premier Division mainstays.

Yet they're also known for developing and then losing players.

From the moment Doherty replaced Tim Clancy as boss four years ago, a repetitive pattern has formed.

Good players become great under Doherty. And then leave.

Never mind how good a team they have, imagine how good it could have been. But the past is something Doherty cannot change.

Yet you get the impression he is finally thinking about a winter where he won't have to undergo another squad rebuild with Warren Davis and Luke Dennison (right) committing their futures to the club, others in discussions to do the same.