Bradley insists Byrne left Rovers on good terms

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has denied any falling out with midfielder Jack Byrne who has left the club to join Dubai Irish on loan until December.

Byrne had been absent from the Rovers squad in recent times as they earned qualification to the UEFA Conference League group stage and took control of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division race.

Dubai Irish play in the UAE Third Division League with their first league game, against Nova Star, pencilled in for 19 September.

Rumours surrounding Byrne's exit have been rife, but speaking after the Hoops' 2-1 victory over Drogheda United on Sunday evening, Bradley stressed the move was purely a footballing decision and insisted he and the midfielder are on good terms.

The Rovers boss said: "Me and Jack have a brilliant relationship and I’ve nothing but respect for him. He's been brilliant for this football club and we've been good for him.

"Jack's just at a place where he wants to play every minute of every game and right now I can't offer him that. That's what it's come down to.

"He's gone there to play until November. He has a year left (on his contract), we'll sit down in November and decide what happens from then.

"But there's no issues with Jack. He's been brilliant for this club, we've been good for him and he’s going to play football and come November we'll sit down and have lunch and have a chat."

With Byrne already out the door, Rovers could see defender Josh Honohan follow him amid talk of a second bid for the player from League One Lincoln City, who are reported to have offered €500,000 for the defender.

"There's a lot of interest in Josh," Bradley said. "We'll sit down as a club tomorrow morning and have a chat, and Josh will be included and obviously his dad as well and his agent as well.

"That interest and the offers have been in the last few weeks and the brilliant part is how Josh has just focused on what's in front of him.

"I've made no secret what level I think Josh can play at and I stand by that. Whether that's now or January remains to be seen but we need to have that conversation with us.

"If the board say, 'this makes financial sense, we've got to do it’, well then, that's what you do because that's part of the business model and that's what we do."

Click here to read article