Bray Wanderers winger Dylan Connolly says he had no desire to join SSE Airtricity League champions Dundalk.
The 21-year-old put pen to paper on a new two-year deal with the Seagulls on Sunday.
Stephen Kenny was hoping to sign the Dubliner to replace Daryl Horgan who completed a move to Championship side Preston North End earlier this month.
Connolly had a year left on his contract when Dundalk put in a bid with Bray, the fee believed to be in the region of €20,000 was rejected by the Wicklow club.
They were reported to be holding out for an offer of €100,000. PFAI secretary, Stephen McGuinness had told the press earlier this month that the transfer was expected to materialise "within weeks".
Connolly though had no desire to leave Bray, he told 98FM Sport that staying at the club was a no brainer:
“I loved my time there last year, I was playing the best football of my life. I get on with the manager and the other players, it looks exciting, I’m excited.”
“I just want to play where I’m happy.”
“No, never,” Connolly says without hesitation when asked if he came close to joining Dundalk in recent weeks.
“They contacted Bray but it was nothing that interested me.”
“I was talking to Bray the whole time, I knew I wanted to stay there the whole time. I went on holiday and came back and got things over the line with the manager and the board.”
We're are delighted to announce that @dconnolly_95 has signed a new 2 year contract with the club.https://t.co/b9yF6Pu8mc pic.twitter.com/lTCuqRCXqv
— Bray Wanderers FC (@BrayWanderers) December 18, 2016
With plans to switch to a full-time set-up and further signings to add to the squad for 2017, the Bray Wanderers project is set to be an expensive undertaking. Connolly has no concerns about whether or not they have the capital to sustain he ambitious project:
“It’s ok we’ve got new Chinese owners so we’re sorted,” Connolly says before letting a giggle slip in.
“I’m only messing but seriously I don’t know where the money comes from, obviously the club have history (of financial issues) but that was previous people.”
“The club are in a stable condition, I know that - I’ve met people in the club, I wouldn’t be worried. I see people on twitter and all that worrying, don’t be worried.”
“There’s only one team in Wicklow, don’t worry things will be good, I know it.”
“They’ve got a new board and stuff in and they’ve got good backing, they don’t just make a 5-year plan with no money, there’s money here so for all the players that want to come down to Bray, come on down.”
Connolly cited the stability of the deal as one of the key factors in his decision making process.
The former Ipswich Town winger had asked the club to table a two-year contract:
“I asked the club could I have a two-year deal just so I know for the next few years where I’m going to be, I have a young family so it’s good to have that stability for the next two years.”
Connolly joins Gary McCabe, Aaron Greene and Keith Buckley who have signed up with Bray for next season, he admits to being surprised by Harry Kenny’s ability to attract players of that ilk.
He says Kenny was a huge reason behind his decision to commit to the cause:
“Harry is like a father figure to me, his man management is different class. As a player there’s nothing better when you have a manager you go and talk to.”
“When you’re at home in November and you’re watching two teams playing in the Aviva Stadium (in the FAI Cup final) that just itches you, it got me thinking I want to be there next year.”
“The signings Harry has made and the squad that’s already there, we can really do something if we all work hard.”
