Ruaidhri Higgins believes he can lure ‘top players’ to Derry City next season and turn the club into a serious force.
But the Candystripes boss insists he won’t go ‘stupid’ with signings despite owner-chairman Philip O’Doherty selling his engineering company for $2 billion.
Fans have been wondering how much of that cash bonanza will be used so that Derry City can flex their financial muscle in pursuit of silverware.
But Higgins - who has lifted Derry off the bottom of the table and into the European race since taking charge in April - has stressed the need for a calm approach.
Patrick McEleney is already returning to Foyleside when he leaves Dundalk later this year but O’Doherty revealed that Higgins has already identified other targets.
But Higgins - who saw his side draw 3-3 with Bohs in a Monday night thriller - said: “Philip O’Doherty sold his business but it’s not like he’s become wealthy overnight.
“We will bring in a few top players, there’s no doubt about that, we will. But it won’t be stupid, it won’t be seven or eight marquee players.
“It will be a few to add to the real quality and hunger that’s already here.
“And I think going forward that if we can keep that hunger and keep developing and add two or three top players then we’ll be a real force.”
Meanwhile, Higgins was miffed at the amount of injury-time played by referee Rob Harvey in Monday’s cracker at Dalymount.
Having come from 1-0 down, Derry thought they had nicked the win in stoppage time when James Akintunde scored.
But Georgie Kelly - who equalised at 2-2 with 10 minutes to play - scored his second in the 96th minute to leave the Candystripes reeling.
Higgins said: “When three minutes go up on the board and we get to 50.5 minutes then I’m entitled to ask the question. It’s so incredibly frustrating.
“That’s what you have to live with when you go away to big Dublin clubs. That seems to happen a fair bit. It’s part and parcel.”
Higgins sought an explanation for the additional time from Harvey and said: “In fairness he explained himself.
“He said a minute for the (Akintunde) goal and then another for Ciaron Harkin being on the ground for whatever.
“It’s just strange that he’s added on a minute for each of them. But we’ve gone over 50 minutes. At our club we have to get used to accepting stuff like that.
“When you score three times in Dublin against one of the top teams you’d like to be coming away with three points.
“But it shows how far this team has come in such a short space of time that we’re devastated and heartbroken going back up the road with a point.
Derry are six off third-placed Sligo Rovers but remain in the hunt for Europe, although Bohs are still breathing down their neck. Fourth place will also be sufficient if second-placed St Pat’s win the FAI Cup.
But Higgins added of his side: “They’re an amazing group to work with and they’re going to get better.
“We just need to learn the dark arts and in key moments of games maybe get rid of a wee bit of naivety. When we do that, we’ll be a hell of a team.”
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