Derry could be facing a Swifts exit

Dungannon Swifts could force financially-stricken Derry City into liquidation next week over a row involving payment for now Celtic midfielder Niall McGinn.

The long-running dispute looked to have ended when the clubs came to an agreement recently, with Derry reportedly agreeing to pay Dungannon £40,000 due to a sell-on clause included in a deal to take McGinn to Derry and which was trigged after his subsequent move to the Glasgow club.

Derry paid the first instalment of £10,000, but they failed to meet last Friday’s deadline for the next and it appears the Irish League club have lost patience with the Candystripes.

‘I'm absolutely exasperated by all of this,’ said Dungannon chairman Jarlaith Falloon said in the Londonderry Senitel.

‘And to say I am disappointed in Derry is putting it mildly.

‘The case was settled last month in court with the agreement to pay £10,000 at once then stagger the other £30,000 over three months, on the last day of the month.

‘We phoned our solicitor at the end of business on Friday but were told that no payment had come through, so they are now in default and we are not bound to silence any more.

‘Derry insisted on the confidentiality clause which we agreed to, we have co-operated throughout the handling of this matter.

‘We can put Derry into liquidation now, and we will bring this up at a board meeting tomorrow night and discuss our options.’

Derry are in major trouble off-the-field and manager Stephen Kenny revealed recently that the players have not been paid for eight weeks.

The club lost two major sponsors during the season and things are looking increasingly bleak for their future in Premier Division and maybe even senior football.