Jonny Stapleton
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St Patrick’s Athletic produced a bolt from the blue transfer coup this week.
The FAI Cup winners caught everyone by surprise when they confirmed the signing of Eoin Doyle from Bolton Wanderers.
The 33-year-old striker has forged a reputation as one of the EFL’s most prolific frontmen in recent years.
Having helped fire Bolton Wanderers to promotion last season with 19 goals – the highest tally for a Bolton player in over 20 years – Doyle was just two goals shy of hitting double figures for the former Premier League side in League One this term.
However, the former Cardiff, Swindon, Hibs, Portsmouth, Sligo Rovers and Bradford striker is homeward bound and will look to resume his goal scoring antics in the League of Ireland next year.
The Dubliner, who will act as Bolton’s chief Irish scout, will be hoping to bag the 11 goals needed to bring him to the 200 career goals mark in the red and white of Inchicore side St Pats.
The two-time FAI Cup winner, who will wear the number nine jersey at Richmond Park, says finishing his career at home was always the plan and he is excited to team up with former team-mate, Tim Clancy.
“It was a huge decision for me and coming home was a major factor, I’ve always been a big fan of the league, and looked out for the results of the clubs I’ve played at, and Tim’s results at Drogheda,” he said.
“I didn’t want to come back when I was too old when I couldn’t add any value to the team, it was important for me to come back and try have some success.”
Bolton manager, Ian Evatt, who started Doyle as recently as last week revealed the well travelled net finder left the club with his blessing.
“I have known Eoin a long, long time and he’s a fantastic person, a fantastic player. He’s very, very honest and we have had open and honest discussions, we both felt it was the right time for him to move back home – and that was always his aim to finish his career there – and secondly for the evolution of the team to take place.
“We recruited a team with a salary cap to get us out of League Two and with the help of a very good January window we accomplished that. Doyler was a huge part of that, and what we have done this season.”
St Patrick’s Athletic’s new signing Eoin Doyle is unveiled at Richmond Park in Inchicore last week
Photos by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
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