The wife of James McClean has confessed to feeling a "huge sense of relief" as the family prepares to relocate to Northern Ireland following the experienced footballer's departure from Wrexham. The mother-of-four has opened up about the emotional burden the family has endured throughout her husband's 15-year career in English football, largely influenced by the controversy surrounding his decision not to wear a poppy. The 36-year-old sealed an unexpected move back to his local side Derry City on Saturday after reaching a mutual agreement to terminate his contract with Championship outfit Wrexham.

Erin is hopeful that returning to Derry will bring greater stability to family life after enduring years of hostility and intimidation stemming from the former Republic of Ireland international's initial stance whilst at Sunderland in 2012. Discussing the circumstances behind the transfer, Erin emphasised that footballing considerations were the primary motivation for McClean's exit from Wrexham, where his opportunities on the pitch had diminished this season.

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, she said: "James still had 18 months left on his Wrexham contract, but I think he has always been the type of person who just wants to play football. That's the bottom line, and he hasn't been getting as many minutes for Wrexham as he's wanted this season.

"I think when the Derry City opportunity came knocking, he couldn't look away from it. Wrexham were amazing on their end as well to get that done for him."

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McClean enjoyed tremendous success on the field in north Wales, leading Wrexham as captain through consecutive promotions from League Two into the Championship. Yet Erin acknowledged the family's off-pitch experience over the years has proved more challenging.

She said: "Ninety-five per cent of the people that we've met over here have just been amazing. We have made friends that we'll always keep in touch with. That small minority did affect us during certain times, but to a certain degree it's made us who we are now and how resilient we are.

"Now, we're getting to go home and settle and hopefully we lose that negative side of things and life gets a bit more settled and easier."

The "negative side" Erin mentions concerns the ongoing debate around McClean's decision not to wear a poppy. His position stems from growing up on the Creggan estate in Derry, where numerous families were directly impacted by Bloody Sunday in 1972.

McClean has repeatedly said he cannot wear the poppy as it symbolises all British Army conflicts, rather than exclusively those who died in the world wars. The matter initially gained prominence when he was 23 at Sunderland and has accompanied him throughout stints at Wigan, West Brom, Stoke and Wrexham.

Throughout the years, McClean has endured relentless hostility and threats to his life, especially during the period leading up to Remembrance Day. His wife Erin has previously disclosed her fear that her husband might be "shot" during a live match following menacing warnings whilst he played in England.

Nevertheless, McClean has noted that numerous teammates show understanding once he explains his position. He has expressed exasperation at continually being forced to defend his convictions, saying he wishes the matter would simply "go away". For Erin, returning home signifies considerably more than a mere footballing switch.

She said: "There's a huge sense of relief. But to be fair, the last few years, being at Wrexham and Wigan, they have been two fantastic clubs to deal with in regards to how they've always supported us and had our backs. It has gotten easier the last few years, but moving home will just take it to a different level."