Higgins gutted at leaving Brandywell

MIDFIELDER Ruaidhrí Higgins believes Roddy Collins may be trying to put his own stamp on Derry City FC by not offering him a new contract.
Ruaidhri Higgins.Ruaidhri Higgins.
Ruaidhri Higgins.

The Limavady man also admitted he’s determined to prove a few people wrong having absorbed the shock news he’s no longer a Derry City player.

“Honestly nothing surprises me in football now,” conceded a gutted Higgins.

“Roddy has taken over and he wants to make a stamp and he wants his own players in and I have to respect that. I can understand a manager wanting to put his own mark on things and that’s his decision and I wish him all the best.”

The 29-year-old, who was one of the current squad’s better performers throughout the course of an ultimately disappointing season in 2013, is thought to have turned down offers from various clubs with champions St Patrick’s Athletic believed to be one of those teams.

“There has been a wee bit of interest but I sort of had it in my mind I wanted to stay with Derry and I probably thought that was going to happen, but obviously it hasn’t.

“Now I have to look onwards and upwards and it has actually made me very, very hungry to go and prove a point,” he added.

The former Bohemians man conceded he’s bitterly disappointed for his family who like him have enjoyed his time at the Brandywell.

“I found it difficult for a bit today (Wednesday) but I have got my head around it now and I actually feel more for my family, because they loved going to the Brandywell and watching the matches and they went on the European trips, so I feel for them a bit.

“But I’m a footballer and that’s what happens in football, you never know what’s around the corner and now I have to meet the challenge head on and hopefully that new challenge will be sorted sooner rather than later.

“However, in saying that, I’m not going to make any decisions, but if something comes up that I would like then I’ll have to consider it.

“Either way, wherever I am, hopefully I’ll have a really, really good season because that’s what I’m planning to do.”