Derry City have expressed their regret at the decision of several groups of Shamrock Rovers fans to cancel buses to Friday's away game in the Brandywell.
The Hoops supporters announced the move over concerns for safety after buses were allegedly stoned on previous visits to the ground.
The groups claim there were ‘several clearly premeditated attacks in the recent past on Shamrock Rovers buses in and around the Brandywell, which remain a no-go area for the local police.’
The Candystripes’ director Tony O'Doherty told RTE Radio 1’s Drivetime that measures were planned to make sure the supporters would have safe journeys to the game on Friday.
He said: ‘The attacks occurred outside the ground and they were carried out by children.
‘I don’t want to minimise this in any way because first of all I want to apologise to any Rovers fan and indeed the owners of the buses but it did happen outside the ground. No League of Ireland club has jurisdiction for outside it’s ground.
‘However, we recognise the special situation of The Brandywell. In recent game, such as the Bohemians game, our stewards stayed on after the game and made sure there was clear and safe exit and that was offered.
‘Unfortunately I think the Rovers guys had already made up their minds on this. It is regrettable and I’m extremely sorry they have taken this stance.’
O’Doherty added: ‘I’m not going to get involved in a policing issue. We have a responsibility as part of our licensing situation that we provide safe stewarding of all people who visit our ground.
‘No club can possibly say they can take responsibility for outside the ground. That is a civil or policing matter.
‘If Shamrock Rovers decide they need a police escort to come to the ground that is entirely up to Shamrock Rovers. One situation has been taken here and used to make something that is not true overall. The vast, vast majority of visiting fans come to the Brandywell and never have the slightest problem.
‘We recognise the problem in that we’re right in the middle of a built-up area and young kids do take part in stoning of buses. We have moved to address that. We stay with the Bohemians buses long after everyone was gone.
‘We were still there with Bohemians buses when their team left the last day and made sure they had a safe exit. We would have done the same with Shamrock Rovers.’
