James McClean Leaves Derry City After Club Tried to Terminate His Contract

• James McClean, 37, and Derry City agreed to end his contract with immediate effect on Wednesday, per BBC Sport.
• The club had tried to terminate the deal on its own in August, and McClean had two years left on it.
• He last featured for Derry in July, and the club meet Waterford in the FAI Cup final on 8 November.

How McClean’s Hometown Return Ended in a Contract Fight

James McClean’s second spell at Derry City is over. The 37-year-old and the club agreed on Wednesday to terminate his contract with immediate effect, bringing to a close a dispute that began in August, when Derry tried to end the deal without his agreement. McClean came home from Wrexham in January and had two years left on his contract. He last featured for Derry in July. A joint statement said both sides are “satisfied with the outcome and are pleased to move forward constructively”. McClean added that Derry City FC “will always hold a special place in my heart”.

The August Attempt to End His Deal

Derry’s attempt to terminate McClean’s contract in August rested on his fitness. The club reportedly claimed he was not fit enough to play or train, which left him unable to meet the terms of the deal, and that he was “permanently incapacitated”. McClean said he was ready to play when called upon.

He made his case in public on 6 October, in a statement on the PFA Ireland website. He called the move “incomprehensible” and said it set a “dangerous precedent”. In full: “For any club to feel it is OK to attempt to terminate a player’s contract without any due process or just cause is incomprehensible, and it sets a dangerous precedent for every player in this league.”

He described the months away from the squad as “one of the most difficult periods of my life, both personally and professionally”. He said he returned from Wrexham “in good faith”, on commitments made to him about his playing side and his future after football, and that he “uprooted my family midway through the school year” to do it.

McClean said Derry asked him “to help drive standards, to speak up, and to use my experience to further professionalise my hometown club”. He tried to do that from the start of the season, he said, but felt his opinions “were not well received”.

McClean also accepted that “some of my actions over the past few months were misjudged” and that his frustrations should have stayed inside the club. He said “I take responsibility for that” and apologised. He also said he is happy to be held accountable when his performances fall short of his own standards.

The Farewell

The settlement closes the dispute. McClean said he is pleased the two sides reached a resolution, and that his return “did not work out as I had hoped”. He thanked the fans “for their support” and wished the squad, management, staff and supporters “the very best for the future”. He also wished the team luck in the FAI Cup final against Waterford.

Derry chairman Philip O’Doherty thanked McClean “for his dedication to his hometown club”. He then singled out the player’s record for his country: “His achievements extend far beyond the Brandywell; amassing 103 senior caps for the Republic of Ireland is a remarkable milestone, and we want to formally acknowledge his immense contribution to Irish football as a whole.” Neither the club nor McClean will comment further.

From Institute to Sunderland and Back

McClean began his career at Institute and moved to Derry in 2008. He spent three years at the Brandywell before Sunderland signed him in 2011. He then spent nearly 15 years in the English Football League and the Premier League, with spells at Wigan, West Brom, Stoke and Wrexham, before he rejoined Derry in January.

That return was meant to be a homecoming for a player who grew up in the city. Instead it ended with a public argument over his contract, an apology and an exit with two years of the deal unused.

What Happens Next

With McClean’s contract ended, Derry look ahead to two games. They travel to Sligo Rovers on Friday for their final League of Ireland Premier Division match of the season, which kicks off at 19:45 GMT. They then face Waterford in the FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium on 8 November. McClean has wished the team luck for the final.

WRITTEN BY

George Howson

George Howson is a Futbol Chronicle contributor and accredited journalist with over 20 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, George has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing deep knowledge and first-hand insight to every match report and analysis he writes.

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