James McClean says he has "no interest" in attending Derry City's Club Orange FAI Cup final and that "the damage is done" in his relationship with his hometown club.
The Republic of Ireland centurion has not played for Derry since July. The following month it was reported that the club had attempted to cancel McClean's contract on the grounds of his physical condition. McClean later released a statement through the PFAI describing the move as "incomprehensible" and warning it was "setting a dangerous precedent." He described the period as "one of the most difficult periods of my life, personally and professionally."
Derry's form has revived since August under interim manager Mark Connolly, and the Brandywell side have reached another Cup final after wins over Dundalk in the quarter-finals and Galway United in the semi-finals. They face Waterford on Sunday week.
Asked whether he would watch the final at the Aviva Stadium, McClean told RTÉ Radio 1's Inside Sport on Tuesday, "No, I'm taking my son over to Old Trafford to watch United." He said it was painful but that he had come to terms with it, adding, "It is what it is. It's sad. They all went and got their Cup final suits last week. There's a good buzz and that but I know I wasn't going to be a part of it."
He went further, saying that even if Derry offered him a start and a full 90 minutes, his answer would be no. "The damage is done. You've made these last few months horrendous and let my reputation unfairly take a battering," he said.
McClean did, however, praise his brother Patrick, who was named Man of the Match in the 2-0 semi-final win away to Galway. "I would probably say my situation has made him more popular! Hating on me has made him more popular," James said, before adding that he had told Patrick not to get involved in the dispute and to focus on himself. "He's been outstanding. I think for the first time, Patrick is not James McClean's brother. He's finally being recognised as Patrick McClean and that's because he's been outstanding," he said, adding that before moving to England he had said there were only two people whose football careers he wanted to see surpass his own: his son and Patrick.
McClean also addressed criticism of former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny that appeared in his autobiography, 'The Walls,' in which he mocked Kenny's motivational methods and revealed that some players had nicknamed him 'Mr Bean.' McClean said he had previously vouched for Kenny to international team-mates in 2020 and had supported him with the FAI after an internal video produced ahead of a November 2020 friendly against England caused controversy and reportedly shocked some players, saying he was one of the players who pushed to keep Kenny in the job at that time.
"I have no ill-feelings towards Stephen and I wouldn't go around bashing Stephen at every opportunity. We had our differences during that time and that time is gone now," McClean said, adding that he had given the book's ghostwriter, Dan McDonnell, full access to what happened. "I batted for Stephen getting the job and defended Stephen. I was letting people aware of how Stephen is and his mannerisms and was trying to protect him. But by the end, I stopped protecting him because we had our differences by then."
