Cameron McJannet has hailed Ruaidhri Higgins' influence on Derry City after the Candystripes boss decided not to act on interest from Barnsley.
Higgins was linked with a move after he held talks with the League One club, but the 38-year-old insisted yesterday that he is "really committed" to City as Barnsley appointed Neill Collins.
Higgins managed Derry for the 100th time in last Friday's 1-1 draw with Shelbourne and will be in the dugout for tonight's north-west derby clash with Sligo Rovers.
READ MORE: Barnsley target Ruaidhri Higgins remains as Derry boss: "I'm really committed to this"
He is also plotting UEFA Europa Conference League success against HK Torshavin next week.
"It's hard to put into words, he has had a massive influence," said McJannet, who was appointed vice-captain by Higgins a year ago and has skippered the side in the absence of injured club captain Patrick McEleney.
"Everyone around the city is wearing the Derry jersey but when I came here it wasn't like that, things weren't going well and it felt like there was a chance that we could slip down.
"So he has made a major contribution because now we're looking at winning things, we've been in Europe twice, so it's been great."
Higgins has carried on in the dugout despite dealing with the sudden death of his brother Kevin in February and McJannet said the players want to repay his dedication by being successful.
"The group was delighted this morning when he told us he’s staying, we weren’t surprised there was interest so we’re all buzzing he’s staying," said the 24-year-old.
"The gaffer doesn’t like making a big deal of stuff like that so it was straight back to business as usual.
"I think it gives all of us in that changing room a drive and energy to leave everything we have on the pitch - to try and make special things happen with Ruaidhrí and give him something back for his belief in us and for the year he’s had."
As Higgins pointed out, it was the League One club that made the approach to Derry.
"They are a big football club and it shows, as a club, we are going in the right direction," he said.
"Don't get me wrong, results haven't been brilliant of late, but the club is going in the right direction and we are trying to do things right here.
"The players know how committed I am to this football club. I work night and day to try and help this football club and will continue to do so until the day I am told any different.
"We're all very together and we want to take this club forward."
Later, Derry confirmed that they had beaten a number of Irish and Scottish clubs to Danny Mullen's signature.
Higgins had been on the lookout for a striker and feels the 28-year-old fits the bill.
“I really like his attributes," said the City boss. "Danny is a proven goalscorer and he will add more quality to the group.
“We’ve had a look at him in training this week and I’m confident he is going to fit in really well.
“Himself and Paul McMullan are new players that our supporters will hopefully enjoy watching.
“We’re coming into a very busy part of the season between the league, the start of the FAI Cup and our European journey, but it’s something we can all really look forward to."
Derry drew with Shels last week and while St Pat's leapfrogged them into second, it was still enough to cut the deficit to leaders Shamrock Rovers to four points.
With Higgins staying and Mullen on board there could be a big push in the Foylesiders as the title race hots up.
"Leaving Tolka park we felt like it was a decent result, we gained a point from Rovers and Shels are a tough team to play against," said McJannet.
"We've got to keep going now. There are still 12 games left and a lot can still happen."
Derry must negotiate a north-west derby against Sligo Rovers at the Brandywell tonight to stay on track.
"They were in a bit of a dodgy patch of form but then they got that 3-1 win over Bohs last week and so that showed that Sligo on their day can beat anyone," McJannet cautioned.
"We have to do everything in our power to keep Sligo at bay and get the Brandywell bouncing, try to keep the momentum going and the pressure on the teams above and around us by earning the three points."
Next week brings a trip to the Faroe Islands to face HB Torshavn in Derry's ECL opener. "It's exciting," McJannet said. "I love playing in Europe, it's a test.
"Last year we felt we didn't do ourselves justice, we should have gone through and we were jealous watching Shamrock Rovers and St Pat's do what they did.
"We expected to win, we were playing a team from Latvia but the truth is that they were one of the best sides I've ever played against.
"It was a good thing to learn because we're playing a team from the Faroe Islands next week and we have to make sure we're at our best."
