Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has revealed that he expects to be able to call on the services of both Rory Gaffney and Jack Byrne next season.
Rovers were edged out by Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Conference League at Tallaght Stadium last night, losing 2-1 to a team that are regulars in the knockout stages of European soccer.
Gaffney started against Shakhtar and following what he himself called "the best season I've ever had", the veteran striker is ready to sign on for another year.
Speaking after the defeat to Shakhtar, Bradley confirmed that he expects Gaffney to agree a contract extension in the next few days.
"Our full plans are for Rory to be here," the Rovers boss said. "We are really, really far down the road in terms of negotiations and there were more talks this morning.
"I'd imagine that will get done in the next day or two. It's really important he’s here, not just for his performances but everything. There’s a reason he’s playing at 36, it's because of how he lives his life."
The Rovers boss also believes that Byrne will line out for the Hoops next season, after the midfielder joined Dubai Irish on loan in the summer.
Byrne and Bradley are understood to have had a disagreement which lead to the loan move but bridges now appear to have been mended.
"We had lunch last week," Bradley said. "I brought him his league medal and we had a good chat and a good discussion. I would expect Jack to be back with us in January."
While Bradley is looking already making plans for next season the Rovers boss is still hoping to see his side progress to the knockout stage of the Conference League.
To do so they'll have to win their last two group games against Breidablik of Iceland and Maltese club Hamrun and Bradley is hoping to have more luck with refereeing decisions in those games after Rovers were denied what he felt were two penalties against Shakhtar.
It was the second decision, when Danny Grant appeared to be taken down by the Shaktar goalkeeper as he prepared to shoot, that left Bradley scratching his head.
"I can't believe he hasn’t looked at the VAR," Bradley said. "We saw the penalty that was given against us in Athens and it took the referee five minutes to look at that. It’s an awful decision from the referee, and the linesman on our side was awful all night.
"I can take the handball, they are debatable and we don’t know what a handball is anymore in the box. But for me, if the goalkeeper doesn’t come out with excessive force as he does, Danny scores."
