‘Too many keepers’ – Iraola insists Randolph was ‘training very well’ before exit

ANDONI Iraola insists Darren Randolph had been “training very well” despite a lack of game-time, with the Irishman’s departure from the club now confirmed.

The experienced goalkeeper joined Cherries from West Ham United in January 2023, to provide cover for Neto and Mark Travers.

Randolph’s contract expires this summer, the 37-year-old leaving Vitality Stadium having never made a competitive appearance for Cherries.

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He did play in pre-season and for the development squad, as well as being an unused substitute for one Premier League match under Iraola.

But with Neto, Travers, Andrei Radu and Callan McKenna all with the first team in 2023-24, Randolph, who also had health issues during the campaign, fell down the pecking order.

Discussing the 50-cap Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “Darren has been helping us all the season.

“He has been training very well. But, especially since we recalled Trav, we have had too many keepers.

“It is difficult to train with four or five keepers, plus you want to give chances to the young keepers that the club also has to train with you and they continue improving.

“It is a department where, for me, we have had too many in the second half of the season.”

The goalkeeping department is set to look quite different next season. Cherries are not set to trigger the option they have to turn Radu’s loan from Inter Milan into a permanent deal, while Will Dennis returns from a stint at Kilmarnock.

Meanwhile, Alex Paulsen has been signed from Wellington Phoenix, while Cameron Plain departs on a free transfer.