STEPHEN BRADLEY revealed that a potential July friendly with Cliftonville had to be shelved because they sides may face each other in the Conference League.
The Hoops will face either Cliftonville or St Joseph’s of Gibraltar in the second round in the last two weeks in July.
And with the Hoops inactive in the opening weeks of the month after receiving a first round bye due to Drogheda United’s expulsion, Bradley was looking to arrange a friendly.
He said: “We’ve had a few of them from the North, and Cliftonville were one of them! So we won’t be playing that one. We’ll definitely play a couple of games around that time.
“We’ve had offers from away as well but a lot wanted you to travel which is not what we want at this time.
“We’ll definitely stay local, whether it’s up the north or staying here, we definitely won’t be travelling (for friendlies).”
Meanwhile, Bradley believes that Drogheda United’s Euro expulsion might become a regular occurrence in future as multi-club ownership models before the norm.
And he confirmed that one potential investor in Shamrock Rovers had raised it as a concern if they had put money into the Hoops.
FAI Cup holders Drogheda were denied entry into the Conference League this season because their owners Trivela, also own Danish club Silkeborg.
Trivela, who were doing the legal requirements to meet UEFA rules, appealed citing previous examples were clubs were given time to address the issues.
But Bradley reckons it will become more common in future, and pointed to Bournemouth investors Black Knight’s interest in Rovers last year.
He said: “I think we’re going to run into more problems like this. I think it’s only going to become commonplace.
“I know one of the companies that were looking to invest in here in the last while, that was one of the concerns.
“(Black Knight), that was their concern with Bournemouth. Whether that would happen or not, none of us know but that was one of the concerns and rightly so.
“I think it’s going to become commonplace around European football.”
As Silkeborg finished seventh in the Danish league and the Drogs were ninth in the League of Ireland, it was the Irish outfit who forfeited their place under UEFA rules.
And Bradley has nothing but sympathy for the players, management and fans at Drogheda.
He added: I’m just gutted for Kevin (Doherty), the players, the staff and the fans because they have done their bit.
“Because someone hasn’t done their business right behind the scenes, without knowing it it’s going to kill an opportunity for them. I’m gutted for them.”
