Scottish clubs chase Derry trio

Stephen Kenny says Ger O'Brien is attracting interest from Motherwell

The possibility of a player exodus from Derry City appears to be increasing with three of the first team squad being linked with moves to Scotland.

Ger O'Brien is attracting interest from Motherwell, Sammy Morrow is thought to be a Kilmarnock target while Ruaidhri Higgins is on trial at Aberdeen.

Gareth McGlynn, Barry Molloy and Thomas Stewart are among others being linked with moves away from the Brandywell.

Cash-strapped Derry were expelled from the League of Ireland last month.

This was after the Football Association of Ireland ruled that the Candystripes had been guilty of operating a dual contracts system at the club.

Derry players did not receive any wages for the final 10 weeks of the season and this means that they are all now effectively free agents.

The indications are that Derry will be permitted to play in the League of Ireland First Division next season but the club will be operating on a considerably reduced budget and several players are expected to quit the Brandywell.

Other players understood to be attracting interest from Irish League and League of Ireland clubs include Steven Gray, Kevin Deery, Gerard Doherty and Ciaran Martyn.

Ger O'Brien has attracted attention from Motherwell

Derry City manager Stephen Kenny

Derry manager Stephen Kenny, who agreed a new two-year contract last week, has said that Motherwell are looking to sign defender Ger O'Brien.

The 25-year-old is a right-back but can play anywhere across the back four.

"Ger has attracted attention from Motherwell," Kenny told the Derry Journal.

"At the minute I think that they are only able to offer him a deal until the end of the season but understandably he is holding out for something longer."

A number of local-based players are believed to be keen to stay on at the Brandywell outfit.

These include Eddie McCallion, David McDaid, Mark McChrystal, Shane McEleney and Peter Hutton, who could be set to continue his long Brandywell career.

In late October, it was announced that Hutton was being released by the club but amid Derry's financial problems, it now appears that the 36-year-old could be set to play First Division football for the Kenny's side next year.

Northern Ireland Under-21 international James McClean was on trial at Lincoln last week but he has returned to Derry and is understood to have expressed an interest in staying at the club.