Ndo nears the exit door at St Patrick's

LEAGUE OF IRELAND: WITH THE transfer deadline looming Joseph Ndo has been having talks with Shamrock Rovers and Derry City, according to St Patrick's Athletic manager John McDonnell, who has baulked at the idea of allowing the talented midfielder to leave Richmond Park for title rivals Bohemians.

McDonnell seemed resigned to the idea the former Cameroon international has played his last game for the Inchicore outfit as he formerly unveiled the club's three newest signings yesterday.

Jason Gavin, Derek O'Brien and Jaroslaw Bialek were presented to the media as the club continued its preparation for tomorrow night's Uefa Cup qualifying round second leg against JKF Olimps of Latvia.

Gavin made his debut against Cork City on Sunday but, like Bialek, the former Middlesbrough and Shamrock Rovers central defender is ineligible for this round of European games.

Bialek has signed after a brief trial with the club having moved to Ireland with his wife. The 27-year-old midfielder is a former Polish youth international who has had spells with Lech Poznan, Widzew Lodz and Zaglebie Sosnowiec amongst others.

O'Brien is likely to play some part tomorrow night having made his European debut in the away leg which the Dubliners won 1-0. "It's been a complete change coming here from Galway," he said. "Everything's been a lot more intense than I would have been used to but I think I've adapted well, even to the slightly different type of football played in the European game."

The club has sold about half of its tickets for the game and has reduced admission to €10 in the hope of filling the ground.

Drogheda have moved to replace Gavin, signing former Dutch under-17 international Regi Nootimeer from Galway United.

Conor Sammon (21) completed his move from Derry City to Kilmarnock on Monday. The striker, who arrived at the Brandywell from UCD in December, said: "Like every other player I want to be playing at the highest level and I'm thrilled by the idea of playing in the SPL."