Ronan Hale has extended his loan spell at Derry City until November, the club has revealed.
The Irish Under 21 international striker returned to his home country in January but was expected to return to us for the start of pre-season.
Some fans on Twitter were hoping that the forward would be given a chance by Garry Monk next season:
Get him back the kid is a goal score.
— paul kelly (@paulkelly1980) 28 June 2018
Good for him. Looks very good!
— Connor (@connor1thompson) 28 June 2018
Give the lad a chance ffs. He’s a natural goal scorer
— LMcK Kieran (@Kieran994245761) 28 June 2018
Can’t wait to see him in the blues shirt
— Hotshot Hale (@HotshotHale) 28 June 2018
I would of loaned him to a league one club
— Nathan (@nathancarty112) 28 June 2018
Think its more for family reasons
— Sean Fuery (@SeanFuery) 28 June 2018
Bearing in mind Blues are short of strikers and there hasn’t been a whisper of signing one yet wouldn’t it have been better to bring him back for preseason so Gary could look at him? Could go back in August
— Linda Anne Goodman (@Lags71Anne) 28 June 2018
Shame we can’t find a spot for him in the squad tbh but good to see him getting first team football
— Mark Watson (@MarkWatson1875) 28 June 2018
Would like to see him in a Blues top at some point, but in Monk we trust!
— James Oreton (@JamesOreton) 28 June 2018
Verdict:
Family reasons is the main factor behind why Hale has extended his stay at Derry. The Irishman revealed earlier this year that he could have moved on loan to a number of Conference clubs, but a return home was preferable due to his young daughter.
Whether the teenager will return to St Andrew’s at some point, it is not known. He will remain in Ireland at least until November when the League of Ireland season ends.
The forward had looked a promising prospect, having played for the Republic of Ireland at Under 18, Under 19 and Under 21 levels and it would be interesting to see whether he could make the grade in the Championship.