Dundalk manager Seán McCaffrey has confirmed his club’s interest in former Blue Shane O’Connor, but says the 21-year-old has other options both in England and Ireland. O’Connor has also been in talks with hometown club Cork City and could play for the Leesiders in a pre-season friendly against Wexford Youths this evening.
Former Republic of Ireland youth coach McCaffrey told Dundalk’s official site: "I have spoken to Shane. I’m going to talk to him again. He wants to come home. He has had three or four offers from English clubs but he wants to come home.
"There have been several League of Ireland clubs on to him, including Shamrock Rovers. I had him in the Irish underage sides at U17, U18 and U19 level, so I know him well. When he comes into Dublin he’s going to meet up with me and we’ll have a chat.
"He’s a good player. He can play left-back but he can play left-wing also. And he has a great attitude. He’s only 21 and he has played a number of games in Ipswich’s first team.”
McCaffrey admits that his club would struggle to match the terms available elsewhere: "It will be difficult to compete financially with Shamrock Rovers.
"But we’re as big a club as anybody. That’s the bottom line. If Dundalk are doing reasonably well we’ll have as big a crowd as any match in League of Ireland football.
"It’s a great place to play. Shane has played for me before, and the type of football we’ll be playing will suit him. I’d certainly be very interested in him and I’d like to get him. But we’ll see what happens.”
O’Connor’s Town contract was terminated by mutual consent a week ago with the former Liverpool trainee expressing his frustration at his lack of involvement at Portman Road over the last year.