Team boss Kevin Mahon is a Derryman through and through

Kevin Mahon may utter a few minor gripes about the lack of new players in his squad but the big picture tells him that he and Derry City fans have much to be thankful for.

With the Eircom League moving to summer football, Derry City begin their new season on Thursday evening with a home game against Longford Town.

"Let's face it, three years ago we were about to go to the wall," says Mahon, recalling Derry's brush with the Inland Revenue.

"The club is more secure now that it's probably ever been.

"We had no real structure back then either on the field, financially - in fact in any aspect of the club.

"We've learned some hard lessons and we're really secure now".

The previous Derry board certainly made a wise appointment when they gave Mahon the job in 1999.

As a Derryman through and through, Mahon's view on what constitutes a healthy club extends well-beyond winning FAI Cups and League titles.

Mahon mentions the club's youth academy which is being looked after by former Derry goalkeeper Declan Devine.

Every Saturday morning we've got about 100 youngsters turning up Kevin Mahon

"Some clubs just go through the motions with their academies but we take ours very seriously.

"Declan Devine is club development officer and there will be other appointments.

"We've got teams right down down to under-12 level now and we've started our ladies team which I think is a great development for the club.

"Every Saturday morning we've got about 100 youngsters turning up and the whole thing is buzzing.

"Hordes of youngsters have been going over to England and recent years and coming back done and disillusioned.

"Maybe we can do something at this club to make them aspire to play for their local team".

For Mahon, the links with the local community are absolutely vital for the success of the club.

Derry's parlous financial situation three years ago meant that a decision had to be taken to concentrate of grooming local talent for the club.

More players may become available when other leagues finish up in a few weeks Kevin Mahon

The club has made the odd high-profile foray into the transfer market over the past two seasons but for the most part, Derry City is about discovering homegrown players.

The policy has been successful and Kevin Deery is the latest young Derry player who has been attracting interest from cross-channel clubs.

"He's just turned 18 and has been capped by the Republic of Ireland's U19s.

"The Northern Ireland U16s had a look at him but they didn't want to know and he's quite understandably thrown in his lot with the Republic".

Even though his team's league campaign kicks off at the Brandywell against Longford on Thursday, Mahon is still hopeful of adding to his playing strength over the next few weeks.

The club are still waiting for a response from Finn Harps to the 40,000 Euro offer for Kevin McHugh.

The Derry boss knows that his current first team squad of effectively 16 players isn't going to be enough for a 40-plus game season.

Relegation dogfight

"We have the League Cup competition again this season so we'll have more games than last year.

"More players may become available when other leagues finish up in a few weeks so we'll just have to keep our eyes open".

Mahon won't be drawn on what his precise targets are for the season.

"Everybody is asking that question and I just tell them that I want to win every game.

"I suppose I want to avoid the kind of pressure we had last season when we like 60 per cent of the clubs in the division were involved in a relegation dogfight.

"I would like a good solid season, let's just leave it at that".