Having confirmed that Jim Crawford and James Chambers had opted to stay with the club for the forthcoming season on Sunday, Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely continued his frantic efforts to recruit a squad for the coming season yesterday as he hurriedly drafted in players from Bray, UCD and Bohemians.
Mark O'Brien, Davitt Walsh and Conor Rafferty have arrived from Dalymount Park and Keely is hoping Aidan Collins will follow over the next 24 hours. Brian Gartland, Ciarán Ryan and Wayne Byrne have all been recruited from Bray Wanderers, while UCD's Kieran Harte, John Brophy, Aaron McEniff and goalkeeper James Hussey have all also been persuaded to make the switch from Belfield Park.
Keely, who will be assisted by Colin O'Neill, a member of his backroom staff at Dublin City, was also in talks with a number of other players including former Shamrock Rovers and Drogheda United goalkeeper Tony O'Dowd and an unnamed Derry striker.
The Tolka Park outfit have until midnight tomorrow night to recruit players from other clubs after which they will only be able to add free agents to their panel.
The club, however, have still not made a final decision on whether to lodge an appeal against the decision to relegate them from the league's top flight. A majority of Shelbourne's management committee favour accepting the punishment handed down to them last week but Ossie Kilkenny, whose money is required to fund the club over the coming season, is said to favour contesting the decision.
The club have until close of business today to notify the league by registered post of their intention to contest the decision. - Emmet Malone
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