Mark Doyle watched from afar as the mayhem unfolded at St Pat’s following their FAI Cup final triumph.
But no matter how the managerial upheaval played out, the forward was always confident that he would be a Saint next season.
The Skerries man was offered a deal before Stephen O’Donnell’s dramatic exit but it’s no bad thing for him that Tim Clancy is now calling the shots in Inchicore.
Doyle starred in Clancy’s Drogheda United team and smashed 13 goals in 2021 to finish third in the scoring charts behind Georgie Kelly and Danny Mandroiu.
And while he had offers from Drogheda and elsewhere, full-time football appealed once he knew that there was no offer forthcoming from Motherwell after a recent trial.
Doyle said: “Joining St Pat’s was on the cards before Tim was here. I'd made the decision that coming here would be good for me.
“But then Tim coming here would be a good step too as I'm familiar with him and I've worked with him a while. It's good to get it done.
“I was training with Motherwell but only for a week or so. There was no offer there and that's grand.
“It was the first time I've ever been anywhere. I never had trials when I was younger. To go and train with them and see what it was like was good to see.”
Asked if he was a late developer, the 23-year-old said: “I don't know, I thought I was decent when I was younger! But maybe the coaches didn't think I was that good.
“I was on the Home Farm Major team, I was never on their Premier team. I did well at Glebe North and went to an open trial at Drogheda and got signed for their U17s.
“It wasn't the League of Ireland at the time, just DDSL. I moved into the U19s League of Ireland then and progressed there for seven years.
“For the first two years under Pete Mahon I was on the bench, coming on the odd time but when Tim came in I was playing every week.
“We had three years trying to get promoted and they did it at the third time. I wanted to play in the Premier with Drogheda because we had worked so hard to get there.
“ It was good to do that and staying up was the main objective. It came to a natural end for me as we achieved that objective.
“It was a good time to leave but it's a really good club and great people. But for the next step, I think St Pat’s is the right one.”
Doyle had already been offered a Saints deal before O’Donnell’s controversial switch to Dundalk and admits there were a few uncertain days - but he didn’t panic.
And while the Saints move represents a first step into full-time football, Doyle will continue to work outside of the game.
“I'm working with a scholarship company,” he said. “I get players to America. I did Sports Management in College and the lads I work with are very accommodating.
“There can be events going on, showcase games with some of the players, getting footage, and then a lot of emails with club and players.
“You’re setting up Zoom calls with certain clubs to see if any of their players would be interested.
“It’s interesting and a good route for some lads, especially ones who are playing U19s that maybe don't get signed for the first team.
“They’re finished school and it's that gap year where we don't have a 21s league, so it's a good opportunity for lads who didn't progress because they're not ready yet.
“It's good to have the foot in the door and be doing something outside of playing and the lads I work for have been fantastic.”
But in 2022, Doyle’s focus is on making his mark on the pitch for his new club.
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