By Harry Walsh

FINN Harps manager Paul Hegarty will meet with the club's board tonight, Thursday, to discuss budgets and plans for next season.

Harps will be plying their trade in the First Division next time around and as a result Hegarty can expect to be handed a reduced budget.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper James Gallagher became the first player to leave the club in the wake of last weekend's costly relegation from the Premier Division. The Gweedore netminder played his 140th and last game against Shamrock Rovers on Friday last as he takes early retirement.

There is also strong speculation regarding the future of some of the 'more senior' players at Finn Park as the club will have to revert back to part-time football, one of the consequences of relegation and a much reduced budget.

With the club plying their trade in the First Division next season, Harps won't be able to afford to keep all members of the current squad.

That's one of the many conundrums facing Hegarty and the Harps board in the coming weeks.

Hegarty said he will address the strength and weaknesses of the squad in the coming weeks should he get the necessary support from the Board tonight. Conor Gethins, who scored one of the Harps goals on Friday night, is the only member of the first team squad who remains in contract on the Harps book at the end of the season.

With long away trips to places like Waterford, Limerick, Cobh, Wexford and Kildare next season together with the loss of both North West derbies it promises to be another tough season, financially at least.

Hegarty has already met with club officials and he revealed in the wake of the confirmation of relegation that the Board had indicated their desire to see him extend his two-year stint at the club, regardless of the outcome of the relegation scrap.

Speaking to the Strabane Chronicle on Wednesday afternoon, the Ballindrait man hinted that it may take more than one meeting with the board this week before deciding on whether or not his future lies at Finn Park.

"I would need to have a good long chat about things and see where that takes us," said Hegarty.

"I need to see what direction the club wants to take from here and what plans they have, especially with regard to football.

"I can't see anything definitive coming out of the meeting tomorrow night. It will probably take a few days as there are a number of issues which need to be cleared up from my point of view," he said.