Zayed feels old club is doing quite well

The striker, who now plies his trade in Iran with Persepolis FC, thinks new boss Declan Devine is doing a good job.

“I listen on-line to the Derry City games every Friday night on Drive 105, because there isn’t much else to do over there and although they started off quite well and then they hit a bad patch where they lost a couple of games, but prior to Friday night’s defeat to Shelbourne, they were a few points off second spot,” acknowledged Zayed.

“I don’t know what peoples expectations were of the side this year, I think they have done quite well up until the mid-season break.

“They have lost a few key players like Gareth McGlynn and then on the left hand side Jamesy (McClean) and Danny (Lafferty) and they have had injuries with Stewart Greacen, who was our player of the season last year and Kevin Deery and Mark Farren as well.

“I think this year is about rebuilding and although I don’t know what the situation is but maybe in July if they go out and sign a couple of players, because I don’t think the squad is the strongest, particularly in the experienced players department.”

The Libyan international admitted that life in Iran at the start was very difficult both on and off the pitch and it was made even harder after he concedes that Persepolis manager Mustafa Denizli, didn’t even know where he played.

“I went over in January and it took me a while to settle in. The manager didn’t know who I was and he didn’t even know what position I played in, so it was quite strange going to a team with no one really knowing you.

“It took me a while to adjust, but at the start of February, we had a big derby game and I got on with 30 minutes to go and I managed to score a hat-trick, which was a kind of ‘Roy of the Rovers’ stuff and since then things have gone from strength to strength.

“I have scored 12 goals in 14 games and I was over the moon about that.”

The 28-year-old is already looking forward to next season is likely to return to Persepolis and although he has agreed things with the President Mohammad Reza Rouyanian he still hasn’t signed on the dotted line.

“They have offered me another contract, which I have agreed to sign, although I haven’t officially signed it yet. It was a one year deal, with an option of another year.

“The President really likes me, in fact he was the man who brought me to Persepolis, not the manager; he asked me did I want a two year or one year deal; I told him that I won’t sign anything more than a one year deal in the country like Iran.

“Football wise it’s great and I’m enjoying it but the culture is a bit different, the language barrier and it isn’t the easiest place to live, but a one year deal is fine with me and financially it’s very good.

“At the moment my plans is to be back in Iran for pre-season in early July and then I’ll sign the deal.”