INSTITUTE: Keeper Doherty signs for Drumahoe men

While Mourinho was spending close to £100 million on French midfielder Paul Pogba to complete his panel, Deery was thrilled to have signed former Brighton Hove Albion trainee goalkeeper Harry Doherty on a one year deal.

“We definitely needed a goalkeeper and I’m delighted with Harry coming in,” he said.

“He trained with Derry City, he spoke to Finn Harps, Glentoran offered him a contract and there was talk of Cliftonville looking at him, so it’s a tremendous coup for ourselves.

“But he has a fight on his hands because Marty (Gallagher) has been absolutely tremendous since I came to the club.

“Marty found himself out of the team last year when young Michael Lynch came in, but he knuckled down and claimed the jersey back.

“So Harry knows the situation, it’s a matter of the best man winning and that’s the way football goes.

“But we can see he’ll be an asset, it’s competition for places and that’s what you need. I’m never one to just put someone in, they have to earn the jersey

“No matter what level you play at you need competition for places; Crusaders had it last year in the Premiership and all the teams who are up challenging for honours have competition for places and that’s where we fell short last year.

“That was one thing I insisted on that we got the right blend and right numbers to try and do our best.”

Despite the transfer window still open for another few weeks, Deery doesn’t expect to add anymore players to his squad and feels that young players in the underage teams will be pushing for a spot in his first team set-up.

“I’m absolutely delighted that we have assembled a squad of 20 players and I would see the likes of Alex Pomeroy and Aaron Jarvis and even Shane Brennan and Callum Moorehead to be all in and around my squad.

“They are four big talents in the U19’s and this year they’ll be challenged playing in the U20 league.

“Some of our boys who will need games will be going down into that squad and it will help them going on.

“So it’s a great situation for the young lads at our club, as there’s a great appetite to do well.”