UCD boss Collie O'Neill confirms Liam Scales bound for Bristol Rovers

UCD manager Collie O’Neill has confirmed that defender Liam Scales will become the latest player to leave the Premier Division club when he joins English League One side Bristol Rovers.

The Gas will arrive in Ireland this week for a training camp, which takes in a friendly with Leinster Senior League side St Mochta’s, and Scales will link up with the side there.

Rovers – managed by the former Bray Wanderers defender Graham Coughlan – finished 15th in England’s third tier last season, four points clear of relegation.

It’s the latest blow to beset the south Dublin club who have lost their last ten league games, scoring just once in that time, and sit three points adrift of Finn Harps at the bottom of the table.

Striker Conor Davis was unveiled as a Derry City player on Sunday, while captain Gary O’Neill and Ireland under-21 winger Neil Farrugia linked up with Shamrock Rovers earlier in the week.

Midfielders Timmy Molloy, Conor Crowley and Kevin Coffey all opted to leave the club following the conclusion of their degrees, with Crowley now likely to be unveiled at Cabinteely.

“It’s one of the Bristol clubs,” said O’Neill, later clarifying that Rovers are the team set to confirm Scales’ arrival, though he has had more than one offer.

“There’s a few in for him but, as to which one exactly he’s going to, it’s up to him to make his decision. He was very good [tonight].

“He’s been brilliant for us ever since he’s been here. He’s a top-class talent. He’s got a great attitude so it’s no surprise people are coming in and looking for him.”

O’Neill also confirmed that striker Davis has opted to take up a full-time offer with Derry, a transfer confirmed by the Candystripes on Sunday afternoon.



The Drogheda native poured cold water on suggestions he would look to recruit from outside the club, as he did a year ago when Davis arrived from Reading to replace Dundalk-bound Georgie Kelly.

“There’ll be three or four players brought up from the under-19s to fill the gaps and that’s all there’s going to be.

“It won’t be much of a shock for them but there’s a big step up from playing First Division football to Premier Division. Now, to go from 19s to Premier Division, it’s a canyon and a half.

“It’s going to take quite a while for the new guys to get up to the tempo of Premier Division football. We’ll go with the young lads and see where it gets us.”

O’Neill handed a debut to one of those under-19s, Aaron McGrath, in Friday night’s 1-0 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic, but he too will miss the next two games as he jets off on a pre-arranged holiday.

Substitute goalkeeper Gavin Sheridan will also miss the next couple of weeks as he travels to Italy for the World Student Games, leaving O’Neill very light on options.



“Cammy [McGrath] is only just finished his Leaving Cert and he’s off on a holiday in the morning for ten days so we’ll miss him on Monday.

“I do believe I’m going to be putting the boots on myself. Ian Ryan is itching to put his boots back on. I’ll get Ger Barron the goalkeeping coach – there’s three. It’s a skeleton squad at the moment.”