Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the permanent transfer of attacking midfielder Bogdan Vastsuk from Stal Mielec in The Poland Ekstraklasa, the top tier in Poland, on a two-year deal with an option of a third year which could see the current Estonian International at The Showgrounds until at least the end of the 2025 SSE Airtricity League of Ireland season. The deal is subject to International clearance.

The 27-year-old joined Reading in England in 2015 before moving to Latvian side Riga. Bastsuk returned to his native Estonia to play with Levadia Tallinn, where he played with Rovers’ winger Frank Liivak in the Estonian Premier Division from 2019 to 2022 before a transfer to Stal Mielec in the Polish top-tier.

The highly rated attacker has been capped 11 times for the Estonian national team where he also has a number of caps at underage level.

Bit O’ Red Manager John Russell is a keen admirer of Vastsuk:

‘’Bogdan is a player I’ve been tracking for some-time and I’m delighted we’ve managed to bring him to the club.

‘’He is a current Estonian International, he is an attacking midfielder who is very creative and he is exactly the type of player we need.

‘’Bogdan is physically strong, has a great ability to go past players, can score goals and has a real willingness to work hard for the team.

‘’He comes to us at a great stage in his career and I know he is looking forward to this new challenge in Ireland.

‘’I think our supporters will enjoy watching him play’’.

Bastsuk arrived in Sligo today and joins his Bit O’ Red team-mates for the first time as pre-season training began ahead of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season, which starts with a home tie against Shamrock Rovers on February 18^th at The Showgrounds.

This match will be an all-ticket affair with ticket details to be announced in the coming days before they go on sale at The Showgrounds in the coming fortnight.

Our new signing had this message for sligorovers.com today:

‘’I’m very happy to join this great club.

‘’I am looking forward to seeing all the fans at the stadium soon. I have heard a lot about it.

‘’I’ve watched some games from last season and, I see the quality in the team and, I think we can go far this season.

‘’The club has shown me project here and I spoke with the manager and his staff and, I see the club with high ambitions so, I’m very happy to join the team and I will give 100% each game to help the team.

Season Tickets remain on sale with over 700 sold to date, with a record figure expected come the start of the new season.

The easiest way to secure your 2023 season ticket is online at www.srfcdirect.com

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of full-back Gary Boylan until at least the end of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season.

Boylan is a former Academy graduate at the club having first joined the Bit O’ Red in 2013 to join our Under 19 Men’s team from his local club Erris United in Mayo.

Boylan made his Sligo Rovers debut back in a League fixture against Derry City at the end of the 2014 season, going on to make over 100 appearances for the club.

In 2019, the versatile defender moved to Cork City as a free agent before signing for Galway United before the 2021 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division. He spent the second half of the 2022 League season on loan to Finn Harps where he made 12 appearances.

Sligo Rovers Manager John Russell is thrilled to add Boylan to his squad:

‘’I’m delighted Gary has agreed to sign with us for 2023. He knows the club well having come through the academy and he brings a wealth of experience from his time playing in this League.

‘’Gary is a very driven individual and has the ability to play in a number of positions.

I always felt his best position was full back and that’s where I see him playing and developing with us this season.

‘’He is two footed, aggressive in the way he defends, and has the ability to get forward and put dangerous crosses into the box.

‘’It’s important to have the right type of people coming into the club and for that reason I think Gary is an excellent addition to the squad. All the staff and I are looking forward to working with him’’.

Boylan will join the Rovers squad tomorrow ahead of the start of pre-season training, which leads into the first game of the new season against Shamrock Rovers on February 18^th.

Boylan is delighted to re-join the club today:

‘’I am delighted to be back at Sligo Rovers again.

‘’I enjoyed every minute in my last spell at the club and, I know what it means to the supporters.

 ‘’With John Russell being in charge, that played a massive factor for me.

‘’You look at how well he’s done with the club in such a short spell and having played with John, I know how professional he is and standards he demands. I am really looking forward to the season ahead and hopefully getting the club back into the European places again’’.

As we enter into a new year in 2023, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful supporters for their support in 2022.

The European run in July and August will go down in memory and it was wonderful to see a sold-out Showgrounds in our three home European games as well as good attendances throughout the domestic campaign.

Happy New Year to all our supporters.

The club would also like to thank our players, staff and volunteers and wish them a Happy New Year.

Sligo Rovers Chairman Tommy Higgins has penned a short message on Christmas Day to thank a number of people in and around the club.

Higgins looks back on a memorable European run and looks ahead to 2023.

Tommy Higgins:

”As we come to the end of 2022, we can reflect on a memorable summer and those never-to-be-forgotten European matches, we go again in 2023 and can look forward to a great night at The Showgrounds when we play Shamrock Rovers on February 18th.

”I would like to take this opportunity of wishing our staff, sponsors, coaches, players and most of all our wonderful supporters, a Very Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year”.

Sligo Rovers 2023 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division season is 10 weeks away with Shamrock Rovers the visitors to The Showgrounds on the opening day of the season on Saturday March 4th at 5pm.

Pre-season training returns in January with Bit O’ Red Manager Steve Feeney having had a busy period since the end of the 2022 season with a number of players re-signing for the club in recent weeks.

Lauren Boles was an important re-signing for Feeney as the midfielder was a key player in 2022, playing in every minute of every game. Leah Kelly was also a regular starter in the team and will also be back for 2022 along with Irish Under 19 Internationals Emma Doherty and Kerri O’ Hara.

This week, left-sided defenders Amy Hyndman and Sarah Kiernan re-signed for the new year to add to goalkeeper Amy Mahon who signed earlier in the week.

The full 2023 squad so far is listed below:

Goalkeepers:

Amy Mahon

Defenders:

Sarah Kiernan, Amy Hyndman, Jessica Casey, Kate Nugent, Ruth Monaghan

Midfielders:

Lauren Boles, Leah Kelly, Katie Melly, Kerri O’ Hara, Ciara Henry

Attackers:

Emma Doherty, Lauren McLellan

A series of pre-season friendlies will be announced shortly home games expected at the end of January and February.

Season Tickets 2023: Womens Season Tickets are available to Men’s Season Ticket holders for just €25. You can add a Women’s Season Ticket to your Men’s season ticket by showing your Season Ticket at The Showgrounds office at any time before the start of the new season.

Women’s Season Tickets are priced at just €50, giving you access to every kick of the ball next season.

Tickets will be available in early January.

Sligo Rovers 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season is fast approaching with Shamrock Rovers the visitors to The Showgrounds on the opening day of the season on Saturday February 18th at 7.45pm.

Pre-season training begins in less than a fortnight with Manager John Russell and his Management team busy making preparations for the squad to help prepare them for the year ahead.

This week, Russell added Nando Pijnaker to his squad on a permanent basis after completing a transfer from his former club Rio Ave in Portugal.

Nando joins other new signings Johan Brannefalk and Lukas Browning who both join from Sweden, James Finnerty from Bohemians and Daniel Lafferty from Derry City.

Rovers already had a number of players on long-term contracts with Kailin Barlow, Luke McNicholas, Eanna Clancy, Aidan Keena and Max Mata all signed until 2024 or 2025 respectively.

Winger Fabrice Hartmann remains at the club on loan from RB Leipzig, a deal that is due to expire on June 30th 2023.

Greg Bolger, David Cawley, Richard Brush and Will Fitzgerald all re-signed for the club after their contracts were due to expire at the end of the 2022 season.

Garry Buckley and Mark Byrne are due to remain sidelined until at least May or June after both sustaining ACL injuries in 2022.

The full 2023 squad so far is listed below:

Goalkeepers:

Luke McNicholas, Conor Walsh, Richard Brush

Defenders:

Johan Brannefalk, Daniel Lafferty, James Finnerty, Nando Pijnaker, Eanna Clancy, Garry Buckley.

Midfielders:

Greg Bolger, Will Fitzgerald, Niall Morahan, Lukas Browning, David Cawley, Kailin Barlow, Mark Byrne, Karl O’ Sullivan, Frank Liivak, Fabrice Hartmann

Attackers:

Aidan Keena, Max Mata, Cillian Heaney

A series of pre-season friendlies will be announced shortly with two home games expected at The Showgrounds in early February.

There will be an opportunity for our Super Reds to meet the team at our annual Super Red open day at The Showgrounds. At this event they can meet the squad, join in some games with them and have an opportunity to capture memories of the day with aurographs and photographs.

Super Red Season Ticket: https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2023/

Season Tickets 2023: https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2023/

The best way to purchase your Season Tickets is online via the link above.

We are thrilled to announce the re-signing of defender Sarah Kiernan until at least the end of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.

Kiernan joined Rovers Under 17 Women’s team in 2018 when the team was first formed and has come through the academy and become a regular in our Senior side in 2022.

The Grange native came through Benbulben FC’s academy, who compete in the local Sligo/Leitrim Youths league before signing for Rovers four years ago.

Manager Steve Feeney is delighted to have Kiernan back on board:

‘’I am very happy to see Sarah re-sign with us today.

‘’Sarah become an important part of the side after breaking into the team coming through the Academy.

‘’In particular, her defensive skills added to her set-piece delivery, she is a real asset.

‘’We are looking forward to working with her again in 2023’’.

Sarah will join up with her fellow Bit O’ Red team-mates in early January when the side return to The Showgrounds for pre-season training.

Sarah is delighted to be back on board again for 2023:

‘’I’m delighted to have re-signed for the 2023 season.

‘’We had a really good first season and, we hope to push on this season.

‘’I’m grateful to Steve, the Management and previous Academy Managers for helping me get to this stage.’’

The team host Shamrock Rovers on the opening day at The Showgrounds on March 4^th 2023. Kick off this season will be 5pm for all home matches as opposed to last season’s kick off time of 2pm.

Season Tickets go on sale for just €50 in January.

We are thrilled to announce the re-signing of left-sided defender Amy Hyndman until at least the end of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.

Amy joined Rovers from Athlone Town ahead of the 2022 season and made a number of appearances throughout the year, mostly as a left-back.

The Grange native came through Benbulben FC’s academy, who compete in the local Sligo/Leitrim Youths league before signing for Sion Swifts in Northern Ireland, where she played for two seasons.

Hyndman represented her college Letterkenny IT in the 2018/2019 Intervarsities and won the Regional Futsal Finals in 2019/2020.

Manager Steve Feeney is delighted with the last recruit.

‘’Amy put in some great performances last season for us.

‘’She has mostly played left-full but she can play higher up as well so it’s good to have her versatility in the squad.

‘’She came through Benbulben’s Academy and it’s brilliant for them that they can produce these players who can have the goal of coming in and playing at a national level’’.

Amy will join up with her fellow Bit O’ Red team-mates in just over two weeks when they return for pre-season training.

She is delighted to be back on board again for 2023:

‘’I’m delighted to re-sign with Rovers for the 2023 season.

‘’We showed last season that we can compete in the Women’s National League and, I look forward to pushing on further from what we built last year in our first ever season’’.

The team host Shamrock Rovers on the opening day at The Showgrounds on March 4^th 2023. Kick off this season will be 5pm for all home matches as opposed to last season’s kick off time of 2pm.

Season Tickets go on sale for just €50 in January.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce that striker Lauren McLellan has re-signed for the club today ahead of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division season.

McLellan joined the Bit O’ Red earlier this year and will now go into her second season with the club in the new year.

Lauren bagged her first competitive goal in a 1-1 draw against Treaty United at The Showgrounds toward the end of last season.

Manager Steve Feeney is pleased with this latest addition:

“I’m thrilled to see Lauren sign back with us for next season.

“She is another good young player and that’s something we want to continue and help develop these players and help them progress their careers.

“We are looking forward to working with her again next season”

McLellan is also a student at our partners ATU Sligo and is part of the Senior Women’s squad competing in the Third Level League and Cups.

Lauren played with Manulla, Castlebar Celtic and Knock/Kiltimagh United in Mayo previously and is one of a number of Mayo natives in Steve Feeney’s squad.

She is happy to re-sign with the club for 2023:

”I’m delighted to re-sign for Sligo Rovers for next season and very grateful I am in the management’s plans.

”Last year we proved we can compete in this League and I have no doubt Steve and the management team will push us to our potential again next season.

”Hopefully we get off to a great start with our first home game against Shamrock Rovers”.

McLellan and her team-mates return to pre-season training in January ahead of the first game of the season at home to Shamrock Rovers on March 4th 2023.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce that defender Nando Pijnaker will join the club for the 2023 season after the club have concluded a permanent transfer for the New Zealand International from his parent club Rio Ave in the Portuguese Premier Division.

The highly sought after 23-year-old spent the 2022 season on loan at The Showgrounds from Rio Ave and impressed throughout the season with many top-class performances at both right and left side centre back.

Pijnaker is currently a New Zealand Senior International having made 11 caps so far for the All Whites including starting in their recent World Cup Qualifying campaign.

Nando made the move to Europe from New Zealand by joining Swedish side Torslanda IK from Eastern Suburbs. He then joined Swedish giants Grasshopper before completing a move to Portuguese top tier side Rio Ave in 2020.

John Russell and Bit O’ Red officials made Nando a priority signing and the confirmation that the transfer is now concluded having reached agreement with Rio Ave is a welcome boost ahead of the 2023 season which starts in February with a home game against Shamrock Rovers at The Showgrounds.

Rovers Manager Russell is thrilled to have Nando for 2023:

‘’I’m delighted Nando has agreed to sign on a permanent deal. I’d like to thank his agent Bruno Meirelles and his former club Rio Ave for their cooperation in getting this deal done.

‘’Nando is a player of immense quality. He is a current International and he has all the attributes to play at the highest level.

‘’He is a top professional and someone who is very driven and always willing to listen and learn. I feel he can take his game to another level in 2023.

‘’I’m sure the fans will be excited to see Nando back at The Showgrounds’’.

Living in the heart of Sligo Town, Nando has made the switch to Sligo with ease and has settled in well to life in the North-West.

Pijnaker says he is delighted to get the deal done:

‘’I am delighted to be back at The Showgrounds for next season.

‘’I have really enjoyed my time in Sligo so far and I was keen to come back here on a permanent basis.

‘’I wish to thank everyone at Rio Ave for helping me in my career and I am looking forward to my future here at The Showgrounds.

‘’The supporters and the town in general have been so welcoming to me and made me feel at home’’.

Nando and his Sligo Rovers team-mates return to pre-season training in two weeks before a seven-week pre-season training programme.

Season Tickets are available right up to kick off on the opening day and they are best available online at www.srfcdirect.com

It is expected that the opening game of the season will be an all-ticket game with a huge crowd set to come to get behind John Russell and the team.