Joseph Anang has revealed he had his heart set on joining Derby County a month ago.
The goalkeeper spent the first half of the year on loan with St Patrick’s Athletic and starred in their European run.
But the West Ham United loanee has returned to England after sealing a season-long loan switch to Derby County.
St Pat’s signed Danny Rogers in the meantime, and he made his debut in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Sligo Rovers.
And after that precious victory in the race for Europe next season, Saints boss Tim Clancy revealed his frustration at Anang’s exit.
Anang was due to stay with the Saints until the end of the League of Ireland season but Clancy said the club was ‘pushed into a corner’.
Clancy claimed that Anang would not travel to Bulgaria for the first leg of their CSKA Sofia clash unless he was allowed to leave.
Anang said yesterday: “For the past month I knew I was coming here so, in my head, I wanted to be here. Derby County, we all know how big this club is, so I’m just too excited.
“It was July 12 and I got a phone call from one of my goalkeeping coaches. He said that he had spoken to Jason Pearcey and he was asking about me.
“I was in shock because I spoke to my agent and I asked if I had interest and there was nothing.
“Then two weeks later, Derby County came out of nowhere so I thought it was interesting and wanted to come.
“As a goalkeeper I’ve got to challenge myself to be the best I can be.”
Anang thanked St Pat’s for giving him the opportunity to play regular first team football and said: “I got more experience and more confidence there.
“The stands there are very small, but it’s tight and everything that the fans say, you can hear it. It was a good experience.
“I needed the games at that stage of my career. As a goalkeeper, you have to get match minutes and experience, so playing games there was good for me.
“I just have to say a huge thank you to everyone at St Patrick’s; the coaching staff, the players and the fans.
“They have all been good to me over the last six or seven months so I just want to say thank you to them.
“I’m at Derby to push myself and push the other goalkeepers as well. I want gametime, but I have to earn that.”
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