THE ink might be only drying on the final league table of the season, but work has long since started in preparation for the new season, with a number of this year’s squad signing new contracts with Galway United for the 2025 campaign.

In what will be music to the ears of every United fan, the club confirmed on Sunday evening that both Patrick Hickey, who was the breakout star in the second half of the season; and the man voted as the league’s best goalkeeper, Brendan Clarke, have put pen to paper on new deals to keep them at Eamonn Deacy Park in 2025.

Hickley will have company from his native US as Vince Borden has also agreed to extend his stay at the Tribesmen, news which was to be confirmed yesterday (Wednesday); and club captain, Conor McCormack has done similar, with that news expected to be announced today (Thursday).

In addition, Galway United manager John Caulfield has confirmed that Greg Cunningham and Jimmy Keohane signed 18 month contracts when they joined during the summer and so are already committed to United for next season. Bobby Burns and Jeannot Esua are also believed to be contracted for 2025.

“We have a number of players tied down and we have to meet a number players. Hopefully, by the end of the week most of the lads from the current squad will be sorted, and obviously we are also working on outside players,” Caulfield told Tribune Sport after Friday night’s draw in Dalymount Park.

The United manager said at the time that talks had opened with this year’s squad and he was “confident the majority of the players we want to keep will sign back”.

“Everyone is in the mix that we have met, we would be confident and hopeful that we will tie up players in the next few days. It is difficult to give you names, I always say in this game, you could walk away and be 100% happy, but until everyone is committed on the dotted line, you can’t be 100% sure.”

Since then, the club has confirmed the return of those named above, while work is also ongoing on bringing in new players.

“Obviously defensively we have been very strong, we didn’t give away a lot of goals, we had the second best record in the league, but attacking wise we need more options, we need more goals.

“To be fair to Walshy [Stephen Walsh], we relied on him too much, he needs as dig out, and that is a challenge for us next season,” Caulfield said.

Walsh finished with nine goals to his name, and all from open play, but with two braces in that haul, it meant United’s top scorer scored in just seven games this season.

It wasn’t solely a United issue, with Shelbourne’s haul of just 40 goals being the lowest number ever scored by a league-winning side since the two-division format was introduced for the 1985/86 season – Shamrock Rovers even managed to hit the net 44 times in the Covid-restricted 2020 season, which was reduced to just an 18-game campaign.

It means finding, and signing, a striker will also be the priority for every club, which makes the job all the more difficult, but it is something Caulfield is relishing.

“I am here to make the club stronger, Ollie [Horgan] and myself put a lot of work in, we are trying to drive the club forward, there is progression every year, but you can’t rest on your laurels.

“The thing for us is we see the supporters who have really got behind the team. We had a full house last week in our last home game [against Sligo Rovers], we have great crowds coming to the games but we need to keep that, we have a challenge to make the squad stronger for next year,” said the United manager, who confirmed that he and the rest of his coaching staff are themselves all under contract again for 2025.

One player who has left is Francely Lomboto, who announced his departure from the club on social media in the past week.

Pictured: Galway United Head Coach John Caulfield who revealed most of the current squad have already signed up for next season.