Dooley set for Blackburn trial
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Coleraine’s Stephen Dooley is expected to go on trial to Premiership club Blackburn Rovers after representing County Londonderry at this month’s NI Milk Cup.
NEW Coleraine manager David Platt maintains that any deal which would see exciting teenager Stephen Dooley move across the water must be in the best interests of both the player and the Showgrounds club.
The 16-year-old is expected to go on trial to Premiership club Blackburn Rovers after representing County Londonderry at this month's NI Milk Cup, while it is reported that a second Premiership club is also monitoring his progress.
A number of eye-catching displays for the county side at the youth football tournament could spark additional interest in a player widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the Irish League, leading to fears that he could soon be on his way from the Showgrounds.
However, Platt, who has helped to guide the fledgling careers of a number of the club's young players, including Dooley, argues that it is too early to speculate on what might happen.
“We can't lose sight of the fact that it is only a trial," said the 33-year-old who succeeded former manager Marty Quinn earlier in the summer.
“It will probably happen after the Milk Cup and we are also aware that another club is interested in taking him over.
“I have every confidence that the management committee know how to deal with the situation. We must be mindful of the player but the best interests of the club have to come first and foremost.
“The club involved in the trial has watched Stephen on a number of occasions and they wouldn't have invited him over if they didn't think highly of him.
“As I said, at this stage it's only a trial and an opportunity to impress. Stephen's still only 16 - he's got a lot of growing still to do - but he has got great potential.
“If anything did develop from the trial there are EUFA guidelines in place as regards compensation and I'm sure things would be done in the correct manner. But we'll have to wait and see what happens."
