Derry City have confirmed the departure of former Republic of Ireland winger James McClean by mutual consent, ending a contract dispute that had seen him excluded from the first-team squad since July. The 37-year-old's exit comes as Shelbourne, who sit fourth in the Premier Division with 49 points from 35 games, prepare to host Waterford this weekend. Shelbourne's record of 12 wins, 13 draws, and 10 losses has them 19 points behind league leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Derry City issued an official statement confirming the termination agreement, noting that neither the club nor McClean would comment further on the details.

McClean's reflections

In a statement released through his representatives, McClean expressed relief at the resolution. "I am pleased that we have reached a resolution to settle these matters," he said. McClean added that while his return to the club "did not work out as I had hoped," Derry City would always hold a special place in his heart. He thanked the fans for their support and wished the squad, management, and supporters well for the future, specifically ahead of their FAI Cup final against Waterford on 8 November.

McClean had returned to his hometown club from Wrexham in January. His professional career began at Institute before he moved to Derry City in 2008, spending three seasons there prior to his transfer to Sunderland. He went on to spend nearly 15 years in England, playing in the Premier League and Championship for Wigan Athletic, West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City, and Wrexham, earning 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Shelbourne's context

Shelbourne's focus remains on securing a strong finish to their own campaign. A recent run of form has solidified their top-four position, with Damien Duff's side taking 13 points from their last five matches. That sequence includes four wins and a draw, part of a current three-game winning run. Their most recent result was a 1-0 victory over Bohemians on Friday 23 October, with Ademipo Odubeko scoring the winner. Prior to that, they secured a 2-1 win at St Patrick's Athletic on Friday 16 October, with goals from Sean Moore and Daniel Kelly. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Waterford on Friday 30 October. Waterford currently occupy eighth place in the Premier Division table. The last meeting between the two sides on Sunday 2 August ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat for Shelbourne. Duff's team will aim to continue their momentum and avenge that loss. Striker H. Wood is the club's top scorer this season with nine league goals. The team has scored 50 goals and conceded 47 across the campaign.