With the new League of Ireland season upon us, a host of movement has taken place across the league in the winter months.
Unsurprisingly, the top three teams from the 2023 edition of the Premier Division look to have the strongest squads.
Loan moves are becoming more and more prominent following the departure of another crop of talented young players within the league, as well as its growing reputation to nourish talent.
Rising costs are also a factor in why 20+ players have joined clubs on temporary deals.
With Drogheda United edging towards full-time status and UCD's relegation, the top flight is close to being completely professional.
It is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons in years, although the questions remains if anyone can stop Shamrock Rovers.
Here we look at the transfer business of each team.
Bohemians
New signings: Sten Reinkort (Flora Talinn), Martin Miller (Flora Tallinn), Michael Lilander (Flora Tallinn), Kacper Chorazka (ASIL Lysi), Dayle Rooney (Drogheda United), Rob Cornwall (Northern Colorado Hailstorm), Brian McManus (Shelbourne).
Confirmed departures: Kacper Radkowski (Waterford FC), Dean Williams (Shelbourne), Kris Twardek (Atlético Ottawa), John O'Sullivan (Shelbourne), Ali Coote (Detroit City), Jonathan Afolabi (KV Kortrijk), Chris Lotefa (Finn Harps, on loan), Krystian Nowak (TBC).
Bohemians have made little impact on the domestic recruitment front this off-season.
With Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic riding high, and Shelbourne now playing European football, the Dublin market has never been so crowded.
It has forced Declan Devine to search far and wide to improve his squad. The positive for the Bohs boss has been the core of his group is still in place.
The loss of Jonathan Afolabi to Belgium was expected but remains a huge hole to fill.
Estonian striker Sten Reinkort will assume that role.
Polish goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka will stand in as James Talbot takes a leave of absence for personal reasons. Devine is adamant he has recruited well in Chorazka.
Two more Estonians headline their other major business in Michael Lilander and Martin Miller. Again it has to be seen how they adapt to their surroundings.
The capture of the impressive Dayle Rooney and Rob Cornwall returning from America is a boost. Overall Bohs look competent with 23 in their squad total. Whether they are strong enough to break back into the top four is another matter.
Derry City
New signings: Daniel Kelly (Dundalk), Patrick Hoban (Dundalk).
Confirmed departures: Cian Kavanagh (St Patrick's Athletic), Evan McLaughlin (Cork City), Brandon Kavanagh (St Patrick's Athletic), Jamie McGonigle (Coleraine), Liam Mullan, Caoimhin Porter (both Institute on loan), Jack Lemoignan (Harland & Wolff Welders), Daithi McCallion (Ballymena United on loan).
Floating fans of the League of Ireland would be forgiven for thinking Derry City have slowly morphed into the successful Dundalk side of the last decade.
Patrick Hoban and Daniel Kelly join Michael Duffy, Cameron Dummigan, Patrick McEleney, Will Patching, and Mark Connolly.
In short, the main news with Derry is they have trimmed their squad while adding even more quality.
Jamie McGonigle failed to deliver on his potential while Cian and Brandon Kavanagh departed for a rival side in St Patrick's Athletic.
Hoban and Kelly are top class replacements and could make the difference for City.
Evan McLaughlin was a fringe player while other young players have exited on loan temporarily.
Ciaron Harkin has been plagued by injuries and will be like a new signing for the Candystripes, as will Colm Whelan when he returns.
Drogheda United
New signings: Jack Keaney (UCD), Andrew Quinn (Shelbourne), Frantz Pierrot (Athlone Town), Conor Kane (Shelbourne), Evan Weir (Walsall on loan), Killian Cailloce (SM Caen), Jethren Barr (Portadown), Oisin Gallagher, Hayden Cann (Lincoln City, both on loan), Dave Webster (Bray Wanderers), Zishim Bawa (Bodens BK).
Confirmed departures: Dayle Rooney (Bohemians), Luke Wade Slater (Longford Town), Conor Keeley (St Patrick's Athletic), Dylan Grimes (TBC), Jarlath Jones (Athlone Town), Jamie Egan (Longford Town). Kyle Robinson (Arbroath FC)
It's something of a new world for Kevin Doherty as he finds himself a full-time manager and stranger to him with a better budget to work off.
The US-investment has opened up different avenues and allowed United to pip other clubs to former Athlone hotshot Frantz Pierrot who may well find his feet quickly moving up to the top flight.
Jack Keaney also had interest from the two Connacht clubs before deciding his future was in Drogheda after graduating from UCD.
Evan Weir will play the first part of the season in Head in the Game Park after moving to their owner's other club Walsall and being loaned back.
Zishim Bawa is a left-field one. Born in Dublin and a duel Nigerian-Irish citizen, he has been playing in Sweden with Bodens BK. An impressive trial period convinced Doherty to add him to their ranks.
United's working relationship with Lincoln City which has seen two players loaned over to Louth each season continues to bear fruit. Oisin Gallagher and Hayden Cann are this year's contingent.
While it's exciting times to be a Drogheda fan, a tougher division this year means they needed the improvement in their ranks.
Dayle Rooney and Conor Keeley are massive losses while Kyle Robinson was showing great signs in his short time in maroon and blue. He opted to switch to the Arbroath in the Scottish Championship.
The Drogs will need their new recruits to have the same impact as those that have come before them.
Dundalk
New signings: Jamie Walker (Kelty Hearts) Dara Keane (UCD), Koen Oostenbrink (FC Eindhoven), Robbie Mahon (Motherwell), Ross Munro (Ross County), Jamie Gullan (Raith Rovers), Ciaran McGuckin (Rotherham United on loan), Zak Johnson (Sunderland on loan) Scott High (Huddersfield Town on loan), Zak Bradshaw (Lincoln City on loan), George Shelvey (Nottingham Forest).
Confirmed departures: Daniel Kelly (Derry City), Keith Ward (Shelbourne), John Martin (Shelbourne), Robbie McCourt (Waterford), Mark Byrne (Glenavon), Darragh Leahy (Waterford), Connor Malley (Sligo Rovers), Patrick Hoban (Derry City), Senan Mullen (Torino), Darren Brownlie, Greg Sloggett (Cheltenham Town).
League of Ireland managers will tell you the off-season is not a break and if anything busier than the actual 36-game calendar.
Stephen O'Donnell certainly knows that is the case.
Eleven new faces have come through the door at Oriel Park, all of them signed in the last few weeks. The same number has departed.
No longer shopping in the high-end market of the league, O'Donnell has had to be creative and work extremely hard to put together what has turned to be a squad of great potential.
Among their new recruits are the likes of Scott High with genuine experience playing in the Championship, a big Northern Ireland prospect Ciaran McGuckin on loan from Rotherham and Robbie Mahon from Motherwell who showed great potential at Bohemians before moving to Scotland.
The big theme within their group is the number of Scottish recruits with five in total.
It's a much more youthful squad in Oriel Park and slowly but surely the golden era side is departing.
Patrick Hoban's exit leaves Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan, Robbie Benson and John Mountney providing the experience within their ranks. It will be fascinating to see how O'Donnell moulds a much-changed group into a team early in the season.
Galway United
New signings: Garry Buckley (Sligo Rovers), Leo Gaxha (Kerry), Patrick Hickey (Athlone Town), Karl O'Sullivan (Sligo Rovers), Jeannot Esua (Ekanas IF), Joe Wright (Millwall), Tom Costello (Coventry City), Al-Amin Kazeem (Colchester United on loan).
Confirmed departures: Darren Clarke (Glenavon), Wilson Waweru (Sligo Rovers), Mikie Rowe (Wexford), Rob Manley (Home Farm), Oisin O'Reilly, Evan O’Connor, Callum McNamara, Adam O'Halloran (all Treaty United), David Tarmey (Treaty United on loan), Daire McCarthy, Steven Healy ( both Kerry FC on loan).
John Caulfield and assistant Ollie Horgan have plenty of experience of putting squads together in the Premier Division. Horgan would have been of major help when it comes from transitioning from the First Division to the Premier Division.
When Garry Buckley reunited with his old boss Caulfield, it looked like United were set to make big waves in the market. However they have largely stuck with their current group along with seven more additions and trimming a large First Division group.
Karl O'Sullivan followed Buckley down from Sligo while Kerry FC's star player Leo Gaxha was also snapped up.
Tom Costello departs the English academy system for United while goalkeeper Joe Wright will rival Brendan Clarke after leaving Millwall.
Al-Amin Kazeem could be a find for United having plenty of minutes under his belt for Colchester in the Football League at left-back.
Cameroonian Jeannot Esua is the only recruit from outside of Britain and Ireland and has shone in the Finnish second division in particular.
United will be efficient and hard-working. Staying up for the group would be a good achievement.
Shamrock Rovers
New signings: Josh Honohan (Cork City), Lee Steacy (Cobh Ramblers), Darragh Burns (MK Dons on loan), Markus Poom (Flora Tallinn on loan), Trevor Clarke (Bristol Rovers), Aaron McEneff (Perth Glory on loan), Johnny Kenny (Celtic on loan).
Confirmed departures: Alan Mannus (Retirement), Ronan Finn (UCD), Sean Gannon (Shelbourne), Kieran Cruise (Bray Wanderers), Freddie Turley (Bray Wanderers on loan), Simon Power (Sligo Rovers), Carl Lennox (Wexford on loan), Liam Burt (Shelbourne on loan), Naj Razi (Como), Michael Leddy (Ballymena United)
The four in a row champions have had to do some minor work to the group.
Josh Honohan and Lee Steacy were surprise additions early on, with the latter set to occupy the substitute goalkeeper position when the season begins. Renewing loan deals for the impressive Markus Poom and Johnny Kenny, as well as the permanent deal for Trevor Clarke, ensure little change in their group.
Darragh Burns and Aaron McEneff, who has fine spells at St Pat's and the Hoops respectively, rank within the very best additions league-wide on paper. They look as strong as ever ahead of the first whistle.
Some elder statesman have departed including Alan Mannus to retirement. Liam Burt was permitted to move to Shels while Naj Razi made a lucrative move to FC Como in Italy.
However, Stephen Bradley is more than content with that he has to hand.
Shelbourne
New signings: Keith Ward (Dundalk), Sean Gannon (Shamrock Rovers), Dean Williams (Bohemians), Lorcan Healy (UCD), John Martin (Dundalk), John O'Sullivan (Bohemians), Liam Burt (Shamrock Rovers - loan), Will Jarvis (Hull City - loan).
Confirmed departures: Brian McManus (Bohemians), Conor Kane (Drogheda United), JR Wilson (Sligo Rovers), Jack Moylan (Lincoln City), Luke Byrne (Retired), Euclides Cabral, Andrew Quinn (Drogheda United), Harry Fisk, Gavin Hodgins (Glenavon - loan), Gbemi Arubi (Waterford), Luke Browne (Crystal Palace).
Much like Stephen Bradley, Damien Duff quickly got to work on his 2024 group when last year's campaign ended.
All eight players have League of Ireland experience with the only recent addition Will Jarvis on loan at Tolka Park last year and making a big impression. Bringing him back from Hull is a coup for Shels and he could be a key player.
Europe is on the horizon and they have brought in players who know all about what it brings.
Sean Gannon is the most decorated player in league history, undoubtedly on the mind of Duff as he signed a veteran still with plenty of offer at 32.
Keith Ward is also close to the end of his career than the beginning and was surplus to requirements at Dundalk. Duff soon pounced to bring him to Tolka.
John O'Sullivan looked to be a top quality signing for Bohemians without ever hitting the heights of his performances in England. Likewise Liam Burt failed to settle at Tallaght Stadium.
Shels are bringing in proven talent with Duff clearly believing he can bring out their very best.
Sligo Rovers
New signings: JR Wilson (Shelbourne), Wilson Waweru (Galway United), Simon Power (Shamrock Rovers), Ellis Chapman (Cheltenham Town on loan), Connor Malley (Dundalk), Ed McGinty (Oxford United on loan), Ollie Denham (Cardiff City on loan), Charlie Wiggett (Newcastle United).
Confirmed departures: Lukas Browning (Gefle FC), Johan Brannefalk (Ariana FC), Frank Livaak (Levadia Tallinn), Garry Buckley (Galway United), Daniel Lafferty (Institute), David Cawley (Finn Harps), Greg Bolger (Cork City), Karl O'Sullivan (Galway United), Pedro Martelo, Robbie Burton, Gary Boylan, Mark Byrne (all TBC).
It's fair to say recruitment did not go well for Sligo Rovers in 2023.
A number of foreign signings did not have the required impact and it was only late in the season the Bit O' Red secured their place in the division.
Without a large investor as a member-owned club, Sligo are slowly falling down the league in terms of budgets and with a strong east coast look to the league, things are not getting easier for John Russell.
It isn't a major surprise has taken a more pragmatic approach this year.
Wilson Waweru did well for Cobh Ramblers last season and has joined Sligo looking to make the step to Premier level.
Connor Malley started well for Dundalk without being consistent over the course of the season so switches to the north-west.
One major addition is the return of Ed McGinty - he was rated as the top goalkeeper in the league when departing for Oxford United in 2022 and will stay in Sligo on loan until the summer.
Ollie Denham is highly-rated at Cardiff City. A loan move to Ross County saw him fail to feature so he looks to prove a point in another temporary switch switch.
Simon Power was plagued by injuries in his time at Shamrock Rovers and could be a gem if he stays fit.
It's a small squad for Sligo this year. Remarkably Power is the oldest outfield player in the squad at 25.
St Patrick's Athletic
New signings: Ruairi Keating (Cork City), Brandon Kavanagh, Cian Kavanagh (both Derry City), Aaron Bolger (Cork City), Conor Keeley (Drogheda United), Marcelo Pitaluga (LIverpool on loan), Alfie Taylor (Hull City on loan), Luke Turner (Cliftonville), Aaron Pettifer (Bolton Wanderers), Romal Palmer (Goztepe).
Confirmed departures: Mark Doyle (Rhode Island FC), Thijs Timmermans, Serge Atakayi, Harry Brockbank, Ben McCormack (Waterford), Adam Murphy (Bristol City), Darius Lipsiuc (Stoke City), Dean Lyness (Hamilton Academicals), Sam Curtis (Sheffield United), David Odumosu (Cliftonville), David Norman (Vancouver FC), Tommy Lonergan (Fleetwood Town).
St Pat's are considered to be in one of the best positions starting the season. However they have had to do plenty of work to their squad.
The end of Conor Carty's loan and cross-channel moves for Adam Murphy, Sam Curtis and Tommy Lonergan as well as some planned changes has led to a busy time for Jon Daly. Mark Doyle also opted to move to America.
As such there are 10 new faces in Dublin 8.
Pat's profited from Cork City's relegation to take Ruairi Keating, one of the stars of the 2023 campaign, and Aaron Bolger to the capital.
The Saints also moved for Brandon and Cian Kavangh at Derry City as well another leading performer last season in Conor Keeley. Luke Turner is considered a major addition from the Irish league.
The loan market was also used to great effect again with Romal Palmer joining Pat's from Turkey having already 70 appearances in the Championship at Barnsley.
Last Friday's Presidents Cup game didn't go well for the Saints in what was a disjointed performance. Their squad looks too good for that to last long, however.
Waterford FC
New signings: Grant Horton (Cheltenham Town) Robbie McCourt (Dundalk), Darragh Leahy (Dundalk), Ben McCormack (St Patrick's Athletic), Gbemi Arubi (Shelbourne), Kacper Radkowski (Bohemians), Joseph Forde (Perth Glory), Maleace Asamoah, Barry Baggley (both Fleetwood Town on loan), Padraig Amond (Bromley), Kacper Skwiercynzski (Ruch Chorzow on loan).
Confirmed departures: Killian Cantwell (Bray Wanderers), Roland Idowu (Shrewsbury Town), Thomas Oluwa (Wexford), Liam Kervick (Cobh Ramblers), Ronan Coughlan (Fleetwood Town), Shane Griffin (Bray Wanderers), Harry Nevin (Cork City), Dean Larkin (Cobh Ramblers on loan).
The Blues have gone about their business quietly, utilising their link-up with Fleetwood Town which sees Barry Baggley back at the club and Maleace Asamoah also joining.
The big name coming to the RSC is Padraig Amond who bring over a decade of playing in England along with his early successful days with Sligo and Shamrock Rovers.
If they can get goals from the Carlow man, that could make amends for the loss of Ronan Coughlan to Fleetwood.
Keith Long saw enough in Kacper Radkowski's spell with Bohs to bring him back to Ireland while players who are far more acclimatised to the league have also moved south. Darragh Leahy could prove a shrewd addition while Ben McCormack has waited a long time to have a regular starting role, even at the age of 20.
Like Galway, the Blues have kept plenty of their First Division team and built around it. Joseph Forde arrives from Perth Glory in defence with Kacper Skwiercynzski another Polish recruit.
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