Former Republic of Ireland winger James McClean has hit out at his hometown club Derry City after they attempted to terminate his contract, claiming the 37-year-old was permanently incapacitated.
Derry City tried to rip up McClean's deal in August 2026, despite having signed him in January on a multi-year contract that has two years remaining, reportedly claiming he was unable to train or play due to physical issues.
Interim manager Mark Connolly has left McClean out of his matchday squad, but the former Sunderland and Wrexham player issued a defiant statement insisting he remains ready to feature when called upon.
In a statement released on the PFA Ireland website, McClean condemned the move by the League of Ireland Premier Division club, describing it as incomprehensible and warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for professional players.
"This has been one of the most difficult periods of my life, both personally and professionally," McClean said in his statement. "When I agreed to come home from Wrexham, I did so in good faith, based on commitments made to me both playing wise and regarding my future after football. I uprooted my family midway through the school year because I believed in the vision presented to me, both for the short term and the long term."
Addressing recent friction, McClean acknowledged that some of his conduct had fallen short. "I accept that some of my actions over the past few months were misjudged, and my frustrations should have remained in-house. I take responsibility for that - and I apologise. Derry City is my club, and I respect everyone who cares about it as much as I do."
He explained that he had returned to Derry with the intention of elevating standards across the squad. "I was asked to help drive standards, to speak up, and to use my experience to further professionalise my hometown club," he said. "From the start of the season, I tried to do this to the best of my ability, but I felt when I did my opinions were not well received."
"While I'm happy to hold myself accountable when I am wrong and when my performances have not been to the levels I expect of myself, I cannot understand or accept that I have been treated this way over the past few months," McClean added.
"For any club to feel it is OK to attempt to terminate a player's contract without any due process or just cause is incomprehensible, and it sets a dangerous precedent for every player in this league."
Addressing concerns over his fitness, the 37-year-old insisted that occasional physical issues are normal for a player of his age, but rejected the club's assessment of his condition. "I was approaching 37 years old when I signed for Derry City. It is well accepted that any player of that age will have occasional injury issues. I have been open about what my body now faces, and that has not been easy to come to terms with."
"But I am not permanently incapacitated, or anything even remotely close to that. I am capable of contributing and doing well in the League of Ireland. I train as hard and give as much as anyone."
"I will decide when I retire. Nobody else will make that decision for me. When that time comes, my body will tell me. This is my life and my career. I deserve the same duty of care and fairness given to the majority of other players at Derry City FC. I am ready to play when called upon."
Contract dispute at Derry City
Derry City currently sit fourth out of ten teams in the League of Ireland Premier Division, representing a difficult campaign for a team that finished as league runners-up in both 2023 and 2025.
McClean had previously hinted at discontent following his return to Irish football after a 15-year spell playing in English football, where he played for clubs including Sunderland and Wrexham.
Speaking during a punditry appearance on Irish broadcaster RTE in June, McClean admitted his return had not gone as smoothly as hoped. "Family (are) enjoying being home, probably not so much myself, if I'm being honest," he said.
"You know, you have a lot of conversations on the phone, and then you come home and you quickly realise that what you hear on the phone is not what you see in reality," McClean added during the broadcast. "There's a lot of factors that's contributed to that, but we'll leave them for another day."
History of Remembrance Day poppy stance
Throughout his career, McClean has regularly made headlines for his refusal to wear a Remembrance Day poppy on his shirt during November matches, a stance he first adopted while playing for Sunderland in 2012.
McClean maintained his refusal throughout his time in English and Welsh football despite enduring severe verbal abuse from opposition supporters.
In 2024, McClean clarified his reasons for rejecting the emblem. "The poppy which originally stood for World War 1 and 2 has now been adopted into honouring and remembering British soldiers that have served in all conflicts throughout the world including those who opened fire and murdered 14 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday Jan 1972, in my home city, as well as many other brutal crimes throughout Ireland," he said.
"That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy. If the poppy's sole purpose was to honour World War 1 and 2 then I would have no issue wearing it, but that's not the case."
He stressed that he respects those who choose to wear the emblem. "I respect those who do as I am fully aware we have different beliefs and upbringings, I would never force my beliefs on others, I'm not naive or stupid enough to expect the matter to be reciprocated, especially as the poppy is forced now on everyone in the UK and god forbid someone doesn't wear it, the abuse they have to endure. The irony of all of this is that the poppy originally stood to honour those who fought for the right of freedom in both World Wars."
"Some people, no matter what, will not educate themselves or want to educate themselves, so to those who throw abuse about (matters they know nothing about), with insults like 'hates our country', well I don't," McClean said. "Some of my best relationships I've made through the years are with people born and raised in England and have completely different beliefs to me... One thing I never have and never will do, is bend the knee to compromise my convictions."
Death threats and family impact
McClean's refusal to wear the poppy resulted in serious personal threats throughout his career, including death threats and hostile messages sent directly to his clubs.
The winger earned 103 senior caps for the Republic of Ireland after choosing to represent them over Northern Ireland, having previously played for Northern Ireland at the Under-21 level.
Speaking on an episode of Virgin Media's Living with Lucy with presenter Lucy Kennedy in October 2025, McClean described how his family feared for his life after his initial stance in 2012.
"I was getting death threats, people were saying I should be shot," McClean said on the show. "I was getting bullets in the post, bullets sent to the club."
He recalled an international match shortly after his stance became public: "That night, I met up with Ireland. The club had received threats that basically I was going to be shot. The game was on TV. I was going to be shot, this and that. (My wife, Erin) is back up in Newcastle, she's panicking, she's s*****g herself. They had to put security outside my hotel room door the whole night."
"Then, obviously, we're playing the game, Erin's watching the game, she's panicking, she's thinking, 'He's going to be shot on TV'. Thankfully, nothing happened or nothing ever has happened," he added.
McClean revealed that some threats called for him to be shot and dragged across the Cenotaph, but maintained that he refused to compromise his principles for convenience.
"I could have easily just said, 'I'll wear a poppy', and sold myself out and be known for my football or 'I'll not wear a poppy' and be known as that but I've stayed true to myself," he said.
McClean noted the deep connection between his family background in Derry and his principles. "Six or seven people from the Creggan estate (where he grew up) died on Bloody Sunday that day so for me to wear a poppy in support of the people who carried out those atrocities... It frustrates me how people can't see that. How is it even a debate of why I should wear the poppy?"
