Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin doesn’t expect young starlet Rory Donnelly to have his head turned by recent transfer speculation.
A host of English sides have registered their interest in the 19-year-old and the club last night confirmed that they have received a firm offer for the player — but Breslin believes his hot-shot striker will simply get on with his game.
“That’s just the way Rory is,” said Breslin.
“He keeps his head down, trains well and it’s just business as usual as far as he’s concerned.
“He’s a good kid with no airs or graces about him and he just loves playing football so I don’t think transfer talk is going to distract him.
“Over the weekend, a club came in and asked us about the possibility of taking him on trial but that’s not something we’re interested in.
“If someone wants any of our players then they should make us a firm offer and we’ll consider it.”
And that is exactly what Cliftonville’s management committee will be doing in a scheduled board meeting this evening after receiving an official approach, but chairman Gerard Lawlor insists it’s important that any deal is good for both player and club.
“We’ve had a firm offer and others could be on the cards because a lot of clubs have made inquiries,” he explained.
“We'll sit down and discuss it as a board and we'll also be talking to Rory.
“He has been attracting a lot of attention and, though we would not want to stand in his way of making a move to the full-time game, we have plenty of things to consider.
“The team are in a good position in the league, have a County Antrim Shield final coming up and we’re also into the semi-finals of the League Cup. Rory has been an integral part of us reaching that level and so, from a footballing point of view, we want to keep him here.”
Donnelly, who hit the headlines with a devastating hat-trick to dump Linfield out of the County Antrim Shield last month, was the name on everyone’s lips again when he bagged an incredible long-range strike against the same opposition 10 days later and was back on the spotlight on Saturday with another treble in Cliftonville’s 7-3 defeat of Ballymena United — although he claims he scored four.
“Rory and Barry Johnston are having a bit of a debate over the fifth goal,” explained Breslin.
“The ball has come into the middle and Rory’s got the shot away but Barry insists he got the final touch before it went into the net, so I’ll let them sort that one out between themselves.”
Television replays show Johnston diverting the ball beyond United keeper Wayne Drummond but referee Mark Courtney’s report credits Donnelly with the goal — taking his tally for the campaign to 14.
“He’s done very well all season,” adds the Solitude boss.
“We have a lot of competition for places up front so the players know they have to be on top form because there’s at least one other person waiting to take their place in the team.
“Everyone has risen to that challenge and Rory’s no different. I don’t think he could learn off anyone better than Chris Scannell and, in turn, I think Chris is benefiting from having Rory playing up there alongside him.”
