Shamrock Rovers outcast Jack Byrne is set to join United Arab Emirates club Dubai Irish on a short-term loan deal.
The Ireland international has been excluded from Rovers matches and training for the past month, cut from the squad that hurdled Conference League rounds against FK Ballkani and Santa Clara to reach the league phase for the second successive year.
It followed a training ground row with manager Stephen Bradley ahead of the league win over Derry City on August 3. Byrne was part of the second XI for a practice game preparing for the visit of the Candystripes.
With the transfer deadline between Irish clubs closed, the 29-year-old has limited options to revive his career.
He’s been in negotiations with suitors abroad and UAE third division outfit Dubai Irish are favourites to land the midfielder.
Founded in 1997 by a group of expats in the Irish village, the club mushroomed from an amateur outfit into being granted a licence in 2023 to join the national UAE League.
They are managed by Seán O’Shea, the Huddersfield-born coach to Irish parents who undertook his Uefa Pro Licence with the FAI alongside his namesake John and former Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini in 2020. He was previously assistant manager at AIK Stockholm and worked in Norway and England.
Their season kicks off against Nova Star on September 19.
Byrne’s contract at Rovers runs until the end of 2026 but it’s widely expected his time with the Hoops is over.
St Patrick’s Athletic would jump at the chance to resurrect their interest for the start of next season, while his local club Shelbourne are another likely suitor for a permanent move.