What is on Lynch's to-do list at Derry City?

Lynch signed a three-year deal to take over as Derry City boss on Monday

Tiernan Lynch is the man tasked with leading the latest Derry City rebuild after a disappointing end to Ruaidhri Higgins' tenure.

The 44-year-old has signed a three-year deal to take over at the Candystripes on Monday after a successful seven years at Larne, where he won back-to-back Irish Premiership titles.

He signed off Larne duties with a 2-0 win over Institute in the BetMcLean Cup, played at the Brandywell on Tuesday, and will be tasked with revitalising a Derry City squad that missed out on a league and cup double last term and will not play European football next season.

BBC Sport takes a look at some of the main things he will need to address in his new role.

Who stays and who goes?

Maher is one of a number of Derry City players who has reached the end of their contract

Derry City have already lost some big players in the wake of their fourth place Premier Division finish and 2-0 FAI Cup final defeat against Drogheda United.

Their captain Patrick McEleney departed for Ballymena United, who he will officially join in January while his brother Shane also swapped the Premier Division for the Irish Premiership, signing for Glentoran.

Combined, those two made over 550 appearances for Derry across two spells and they both won two FAI Cups so losing the pair on free transfers sees Derry part with a wealth of experience.

Striker Colm Whelan, who had a torrid time with injuries during his two-year spell with the Candystripes, has also moved on, joining Bohemians.

There are also question marks surrounding the futures of a number of important players who have all reached the end of their contracts.

First choice goalkeeper Brian Maher as well as Adam O'Reilly, Will Patching, Mark Connolly, Ciaran Coll and Andre Wisdom could all depart on free transfers.

Lynch will want to speak to all the players and find out who is staying and who is going sooner rather than later as he tries to reconstruct a squad capable of challenging in the league and cup.

Rebuild the squad

Duffy registered nine goals and seven assists for Derry last season

This is a tricky one as a lot of Derry's business in the transfer window will be dictated by those out of contract players who sign a new deal and stay or depart for pastures new.

Derry's recent signings have been hit and miss, but Lynch has a good track record in the transfer market at Larne.

He brought in Lee Bonis and Kofi Balmer, from Portadown and Ballymena United respectively, two players who have moved on to clubs abroad and are now in the senior Northern Ireland squad.

Lynch also signed Leroy Millar and Andy Ryan, two players who were key to the back-to-back Gibson Cups, with Ryan also firing Larne into Europe.

He has not been afraid to put his faith in young players, bringing through the likes of Dylan Sloan and Matthew Lusty, who have developed into first-team regulars.

Lynch wants his teams to dominate the ball, but certainly in their second league title winning season, they went more direct when the chance to do so presented itself.

Larne were also defensively solid last season, conceding just 21 goals in their 38 games and Lynch has tended to favour a five at the back with dynamic wing-backs, a system he seems likely to implement at the Brandywell.

He will surely want to build his team around the likes of Patrick Hoban and Michael Duffy, two of the team's best players.

Name a new club captain

Hoban skippered the side when Patrick McEleney was injured last season

With Patrick McEleney gone, Lynch will need to appoint a new club captain for next season.

When McEleney went off injured in the cup final Mark Connolly took the armband, and he will be in the mix to land the role permanently if he signs a new deal.

Another contender would be Hoban, Derry's top scorer last season who skippered the side on a number of occasions when McEleney was out injured.

He is one of the side's more experienced players alongside the likes of Duffy, one of Derry's key men who could also be in the frame.

Adapt to a new league

Lynch's Larne side were beaten 4-1 by Shamrock Rovers in the Uefa Conference League last month

Lynch will also have to adapt quickly to a new league given he has spent his entire management career in the Irish Premiership.

Larne were a full-time outfit under Lynch which should make the transition easier, and his managerial pedigree was boosted by his ability to guide the club to the Uefa Conference League phase.

In doing so, Larne became the first club from Northern Ireland to qualify for the group or league chase of a European competition.

The new Candystripes boss did reject the chance to go to St Johnston earlier in the season and will welcome the chance to have a full pre-season with his squad next year.

Lynch's only competitive game in charge against a Premier Division side came last month when Larne were beaten 4-1 by Shamrock Rovers.

He will have to learn quickly from that defeat given that after a poor domestic season, Rovers will surely strengthen and challenge again for the league.

Add in holders Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic under Stephen Kenny into the mix and it will be a tough ask for Lynch to deliver Derry's first title since 1997 in his first campaign at the helm.

He certainly has a lot on his plate ahead of pre-season.