Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley is desperate to keep Nottingham Forest target Jack Byrne but is reluctantly planning for life without the midfielder, as he told Tales from the East Stand.
The Dublin-born 24-year-old feels tailor-made for the two-time European champions.
Not only was Byrne likened to Forest legend Roy Keane by his former Manchester City youth coach Patrick Vieira, he was also described as a ‘natural talent‘ by Martin O’Neill.
With the Republic of Ireland international due to become a free agent next week, Byrne could be about to follow in Keane’s footsteps.
Cypriot publication Protathlima claim that Nottingham Forest are battling APOEL Nicosia, now coached by ex-Ireland coach Mick McCarthy, for the play-maker’s signature.
Byrne fired Shamrock Rovers to league and cup glory on the other side of the sea and was named the PFAI Player’s Player of the Year in both 2019 and 2020.
No wonder Bradley wants to keep the former Blackburn and Wigan loanee at the Tallaght Stadium.
“It’s my job to plan without Jack,” he said. “If I turn around to the fans and the board in January if he goes, and we haven’t talked or planned for it, it’s a sackable offence.”
“We have to plan for every scenario. Please God it’s with Jack but you have to respect that Jack has done what we brought him in to do.
“We got him back to his level and in return he helped us to be successful. With that comes interest and clubs who want to take him off your hands.
“I want to keep him but if Jack says ‘Look, this is where I want to go’ then you have to say thanks very much Jack and shake his hands.
“Hopefully he turns around and says ‘No, I want to sign a new deal’.”
Shamrock Rovers signed Danny Mandroiu from Bohemians last week, with the Mirror suggesting that he could be a ready-made replacement for Byrne.
The attacking midfielder produced 10 goals and eight assists in 25 matches last season.
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