Derry are coming from what can only be described as a very bizarre campaign, as they looked very strong early on and were inside the top four, but completely collapsed in May and never recovered.
They lost three of their opening four games, the went on a nine-game run in which they recorded seven wins and two draws, but then lost the seventeen of twenty three games they have played after that.
Kenny Shiels's men had plenty of opportunities to turn their league form around but it became apparent somewhere midway through the season that they were facing an uphill task to qualify for Europe, with Shamrock and Waterford both performing well. It was then that their focus switched towards trying to win the League Cup, which was a goal that they eventually managed to meet, and their focus on the competition more than likely had an effect on their league form.
However, the Candystripes simply neglected their league form too much. They ended their season with a run of nine games in which they recorded eight defeats and a win and eventually finished as low as eighth in the table, just outside of the relegation places.
Despite the League Cup win, their board opted to act and part ways with Kenny Shiels at the end of the season and their new manager will face a tough task to turn around the fortunes of a side desperately short of momentum.
