James McClean. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
From The 42James McClean
Derry encourage those facing mental health challenges ‘to speak openly [and] seek support’ following McClean’s interview comments.
LAST UPDATE | 40 mins ago
DERRY CITY HAVE released a statement distancing the club from remarks made by their estranged player James McClean in a weekend interview.
Meanwhile, McClean’s wife, Erin, has taken to social media to share her views on the subject, outlining that the former Ireland international “is struggling at the moment, and has been for some time.”
Promoting his recently released autobiography, ‘The Walls’, the Ireland centurion spoke to Paul Kimmage in a wide-ranging interview for The Sunday Independent.
Asked about considering the possibility of therapy, McClean told Kimmage, ‘I was back at my [parents’] house a week ago and I heard a voice upstairs, ‘Who the f**k is that?’ And it was my brother on a call to the club psychologist, having a lovely chat.
‘And a lot of the players speak to him and for me that’s just weak. As a man I see that as weakness. I don’t need to open up. I see it as a weakness that I’d have to speak to someone about my feelings; my emotions…’
However, Derry City have responded to McClean’s comments with a statement reading: “Derry City FC notes the comments regarding mental health made by James McClean and published in yesterday’s Sunday Independent.
“The club wishes to make clear that these views do not reflect our core values or beliefs.
“The club places the highest priority on the mental health and wellbeing of our players, staff and the wider Derry City community.
“Supported by our in-house psychologist, the club actively encourages anyone facing mental health challenges to speak openly, seek support and know they never have to face such challenges alone.
“The club has accepted an invitation to meet with Men’s Action Network (MAN) to discuss these issues.”
McClean fell out of favour with former manager Tiernan Lynch early on in his return to the Candystripes, and has not been picked by interim manager Mark Connolly, and the project appears beyond rescuing.
Later on Monday, Erin McClean shared a message of support on social media, while outlining that she does not share her husband’s views on therapy.
“As somebody who loves James, I want to respond to some of the comments around his interview with the Sunday Independent about the issue of mental health.
https://t.co/UFLaY9rS59
— Erin McClean (@Erineyy) October 19, 2026
“James made his comments in the context of admitting that I have been strongly encouraging him to seek therapy, to deal with issues from his early life as well as to face the end of his career. I do not agree with James’ opinion on the subject of therapy and mental health.
“In the book I talk about my worries about how James will cope with life after football. I am proud that in the process of working on the book, he has opened himself up to difficult conversations and has allowed people to see some of his vulnerabilities.
“He is struggling at the moment, and has been for some time. He may not agree with me sharing that, but I’ve told him that I need to explain this.
“I’m working on getting him to a place where he recognises that speaking about this is not a sign of weakness. When James is suffering from stress or anxiety about a situation, his instinct is to lash out. It has been a daily battle in a year where I feel he hasn’t been given the support that he requires when he is clearly struggling.
“I know James to be very supportive to personal friends of ours when they have gone through difficult times. While he continues to push back at the idea of therapy for himself, that does not mean he does not care about other people’s struggles or the importance of seeking help.”
With reporting from Ciarán Kennedy
Written by Declan Bogue and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.