Ronan Manning is the latest player to join the ranks at Sligo Rovers ahead of the 2025 season, the club are delighted to confirm. 

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has signed a one year deal at the Showgrounds and becomes John Russell’s seventeenth signing ahead of the new campaign which gets underway against Waterford on 15th February next. 

The Galway native began his career with local side Mervue before joining Galway United in 2017. He made his first team debut mid-way through that season and became a regular the following year. He moved on to Athlone Town in 2020 and an impressive year which saw him score eight times in eighteen league games, meant Manning attracted the interest of several clubs, with the young attacker electing to return to Eamonn Deacy Park in 2021. 

The former Republic of Ireland underage international missed most of that season with injury but returned in 2022, re-establishing himself as a mainstay in the Tribesmen’s starting sides before going on to win the First Division title with his hometown club in 2023. 

Having signed a 12 month deal at Rovers, Manning is now focused on becoming a regular on Showgrounds soil and says Rovers is the perfect place for him to further develop his craft. 

Speaking to sligorovers.com, he said: “Myself and John (Russell) spoke before the season finished and more so the last few weeks.

“The plan he laid out in terms of the direction Sligo Rovers is going and where he wants to take the club was impressive. Once I spoke to him, there was nowhere else for me.

“I’ve had some bad luck with injuries in the past but I feel I’ve emerged well from all that and I’m looking to put that behind me. I’m feeling at my best now and I’m ready to get going at Rovers.

“The style John likes to play suits my style. The supporters can expect to see someone who’s creative and always wants to get on the ball. I love to run at defenders and make things happen. I feel every player that has signed for Sligo Rovers has become a better player and I feel that can be the case with myself also.”

The once Irish schoolboy international, whose preferred position is at number ten but who is adept on either wing, looks forward to 2025, saying: “Rovers were close to Europe last season and it felt from the outside looking in that they were unlucky not to finish in the top 4. The aim this year has to be Europe and as high a finish as possible. 

“The Waterford game isn’t too far away and I am really looking forward to getting started in Sligo.” 

Commenting on his latest move in the market, boss Russell says he feels Manning can make a real impact in his time in the north west.

“I’ve always admired Ronan”, he comments. 

“He’s a brilliant footballer. I’ve always admired his ability to take the ball under pressure, go past men and make things happen on the pitch. 

“Yes, he’s been unfortunate with injuries at times but this happens sometimes in a footballer’s career, it’s part and parcel.

“He has worked extremely hard in the background and I believe we can get the best out of him. He can have a big part to play next season.”   

David Goulden 

Reece Hutchinson is the latest player to commit to Sligo Rovers for the 2025 season, the club are thrilled to confirm. 

Hutchinson has signed a one year deal which brings the 24-year-old into his third season at the Showgrounds. 

The left back joined the Bit O’Red on loan from Cheltenham Town before the commencement of the 2023 season and made the move permanent that summer following an impressive start to his Sligo stint. 

The Birmingham native has appeared almost 50 times for Rovers to date, scoring three times. He ended last season having appeared in all 38 competitive first team games. 

Speaking to sligorovers.com, Reece says the Showgrounds is the ideal venue for him to further develop his game.

“Sligo is a second home for me and there was no question for me whether I’d be hanging around or not”, he says. 

“This is where I want to play and this is where I enjoy my football. Ultimately, I signed because I have real belief in John (Russell) and his plans. I know he will add quality between now and the start of next season. 

“I am hugely ambitious and I wouldn’t have signed if I wasn’t. We weren’t miles off Europe last year and we can push for a European finish this season, I believe. That’s the mentality the management puts into all the players and that’s a huge attraction for any player.”

Looking forward to his third campaign at Rovers, Hutchinson says he now wishes to push on from an impressive 2024 which saw the Bit O’Red sustain a push for Europe up until the final straight. 

“My first year was all about adapting to the league and learning to be away from home but I have loved every minute at Rovers. But last year was really positive. I was able to play to a high level even with a small injury and learned how to manage both the injury and my body that bit better.  

“I have always backed myself but coming to Rovers brought that confidence and swagger back to my game. The manager likes to play the style of football that really suits me and it helps me progress as a footballer.”

Speaking about the re-signing, Rovers boss Russell says he has secured the services of the league’s finest left full.

“Reece is a player who has made huge strides since coming to Rovers. He fits in perfectly with the way we want to play”, Russell noted. 

“His ability to carry the ball and create chances as well as chip in with goals is a massive asset for us. He’s the best left back in the country in my opinion and is great to work with both on and off the field. 

“There’s so much more to come from him too. His mentality is excellent and he wants to keep pushing and improving himself.” 

David Goulden 

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of Republic of Ireland under-21 international Jad Hakiki. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder joins the Bit O’Red on a two year deal. 

The Dubliner signs from former club Dundalk having spent the second half of the 2024 season at Oriel Park, following a move from Shelbourne in the summer. He has plenty of game time under his belt having played over 50 times between both the Lilywhites and Shels. 

Comfortable at number ten or out wide, Hakiki was also part of Jim Crawford’s Irish U21 squad which twice faced Sweden in Spain last month. 

The former Cambridge FC man’s addition, brings to 15 the number of players signed up for next season. 

Rovers boss John Russell was a long time admirer of the attacker and Hakiki says the feeling was mutual.

“The manager rang me a while back to tell me he was interested and why Sligo Rovers would be a great choice for me”, he explains. 

“He gave some great insight into how he wants to do things and he spoke my language really. I had other options but my heart was always set on coming here once I spoke to the management team and got a good idea of their plans going forward. 

“I’ve played against Rovers many times and I’ve always liked the way they play so I can’t wait to get into that system. The number ten would be my best position, I feel.”

Looking ahead to the coming season, Jad is feeling optimistic and is raring to get going.  

“I always want to go forward to create chances and score goals. I’d like to think the way I play can excite the supporters. I can’t wait to get going now and be part of a really competitive team, hunting silverware and a European spot.” 

Hakiki’s new boss is also eager to see him adorn the Bit O’Red. 

“Jad is a very exciting signing for us”, Russell says. “He is a player who really caught my eye last season and has bags of ability. He’s able to carry the ball and beat players which is exactly the type of player we need. I want to sign players who will make the difference in the final third so Jad’s creativity will be a big asset for us. 

“He comes to Sligo at a really good stage in his development. He was capped with the 21s recently so we know the type of talent we’re taking on. He is really effective centrally but also can operate in wide areas which will suit us. We’re really looking forward to working with him. I am sure the fans will enjoy watching him too.” 

David Goulden

John Russell has further boosted his attacking options for the 2025 season with the arrival of striker Cian Kavanagh to the Showgrounds. Kavanagh, 21, signs from St Patrick’s Athletic and has penned a two year deal with the Bit O’Red. 

A native of Baldoyle, the promising attacker spent his formative years playing in the Pat’s underage structures before making his first appearance for the club at senior level in early 2019. 

Kavanagh caught the eye of Scottish clubs Hearts and Cowdenbeath and also has plenty of League of Ireland Premier Division experience having subsequently lined out for Waterford and Derry before returning to Inchicore ahead of the 2024 season where he played 21 times. 

The Dubliner officially joins the club this Sunday, December 1st. 

Outlining his reasons for signing with Rovers, Kavanagh says the opportunity arose at the right time for both club and the player. He points to Russell’s keenness to bring him to Sligo as soon as the opportunity presented itself, as a key component in his decision making.  

“John (Russell) was in touch early on and expressed a real interest in bringing me to Rovers”, he explains. 

“After I met with him and he told me about his plans for Rovers for the next few years and how things have been run here, it was a no-brainer for me. I felt straight away how much he wanted to bring me here and that he believes in me and that’s what I need right now.” 

The new striker says he is looking forward to leading the line next term and is eager to get plenty of game time in front of the Rovers faithful. 

“John tries to play expansive football that I think will suit my style”, Kavanagh continues. 

“I want to be on the team sheet every week. That’s going to come down to me putting in a good pre-season and performing day in, day out. I want to score as many goals as I can and hopefully we’ll finish in a high position. A European spot for 2026 would be great.

“The support this club gets every second Saturday from the stands is something that stands out to all visiting players at the Showgrounds, believe me and it really stood out to me. I also remember the noise they made at Richmond Park on their visits to Pat’s last season. They were Monday and Sunday afternoons, the noise they made! It was incredible given the length of journey these fans have to make! 

“Even playing against Sligo the last few years, you always notice the players put in one hundred percent under John and I can’t wait to be one of those players. The fans can expect one hundred percent from me as this is a really big season for me personally. I have a huge chance here and I’m going to give it everything. 

Kavanagh is Russell’s fourteenth signing for next season. The manager says his latest addition ideally fits the profile of the kind of player he wants at his disposal next term.  

“I feel Cian has the ability to become a top centre forward”, Russell says. “We want to recruit the best young talent that we can and Cian is a player who can thrive in our environment and in our team.

“He has a lot of experience for such a young player. He has played and scored goals in European competition and was part of an FAI Cup winning team. He has experience of playing away from Ireland with his time in Scotland and moving to Rovers gives him the opportunity to show people what he can do. 

“We are being patient in terms of recruitment as we were last year. We have to make sure we can recruit the right type of player and character and who will match what we’re looking for. Cian is one of those types of players.” 

Kavanagh joins Ollie Denham, Connor Malley, Wilson Waweru, Conor Reynolds, Gareth McElroy, Daire Patton, Kyle McDonagh, Stephen Mallon, Owen Elding, Kailin Barlow, Francely Lomboto, Will Fitzgerald and John Mahon as part of next year’s first team squad. 

David Goulden 

By Conall Collier

Almost three years to the day when he was first appointed, Steve Feeney has returned to the Showgrounds as manager of Sligo Rovers for the 2025 Women’s Premier Division season.

“I decided to take a break at the end of the 2023 season and that gave me a chance to recharge the batteries,” commented Steve this afternoon.

“When I was contacted about the possibility of taking on the role again, I decided to give it a go, I suppose I missed the involvement with a team playing at a good level and I’m really looking forward to it now,” he added.

Steve was handed the task in November 2021 of assembling a team for the club’s inaugural season in the 2022 Women’s National League.

He duly assembled a panel of players for the 2022 season and after a hectic settling in period, that first game was a daunting trip to west Dublin to tackle Peamount Utd.

Despite losing that encounter, the Bit O’Red boss was able to adopt a positive demeanour on what was a historic occasion for the club in March 2022.

“Some of the goals we conceded were down to mistakes, but Peamount scored a couple of very good goals also, we will benefit from the game,” he commented on the sideline at PRL Park only minutes after the final whistle.

Two weeks later and the Sligo Rovers boss was celebrating a first win at senior level for the team when victory was achieved at Turner’s Cross against Cork City.

“The girls proved to themselves that they can be competitive, it’s not just me telling them, they got the win, they scored two goals, it doesn’t mean we are going to win every game from now on, but to get the first victory in our third outing was definitely a big positive,” he commented after that result at the end of March 2022.

Now, he is ready to return to the fold and take the reins again with as much, if not more, enthusiasm with the added benefit of the experience gained in those first two seasons.

“The season just finished was a difficult one for the team, but what I noticed most was that the determination and spirit was still there, similar to my first two seasons, the players never dropped their heads and kept going for 90 minutes in every game,” explained Steve.

“Towards the end of the season they started to get the results that some of the form they had displayed earlier in the season deserved and they also made it to the semi-final of the FAI Cup again.

“I didn’t see every game, but from what I did see, it was encouraging and there was great evidence of the amount of talented players coming through from the Academy.

“It was a fantastic season for Keeva Flynn and I was delighted to see her get recognition with the FAI under-17 International player-of-the-year award yesterday at the presentations at the Aviva Stadium.

“I’ll be busy for the next few weeks organising my backroom team and contacting the players for the new season which will probably start in early March, but I’m really looking forward to it,” he concluded.

John Mahon has committed to Sligo Rovers having signed a new two year deal, the Bit O’Red are delighted to announce 

The extension of Mahon’s current deal comes as a further boost following yesterday’s news that winger Will Fitzgerald has also signed a new two year deal with the club. 

The latest agreement with Collooney native Mahon brings the number of bodies signed for next season to 13 . 

The 24-year-old defender made his senior debut in 2017 having signed from Ballisodare United and went on to become an established first team regular. 

A talented centre half, Mahon soon attracted interest from clubs both at home and in the UK and in 2022 signed for Scottish side St Johnstone. 

Mahon returned to the Showgrounds in 2023 where he once again held a regular place in the starting XI. 

His 2024 season was cruelly cut short before it began in January last year when he suffered an unfortunate achilles injury. 

Following a prolonged recovery period, Mahon returned to play in the recent friendly with Celtic before making his first competitive appearance almost one year to the day, when he was brought on from the bench against Galway at Eamonn Deacy Park last month. 

“It feels great to get the deal across the line”, Mahon says. 

“John (Russell) has shown huge faith in me in offering me a deal for next season and I want to repay that faith. 

“2024 was a tough year for me but I learned a lot about myself and what I want. I am keen to come back better than before.

“There were a few tough months where I wondered would I ever be the same player I was before the injury but I’m lucky to have such a great medical team to work with at Rovers.

“There were offers to go elsewhere at the end of last season but John told me straight away that he wanted to keep me and that was my mind made up. I love playing for the club, my club, so it was an easy decision.” 

Looking forward to 2025, Mahon continues: “I feel we can compete up near the top. 

“There was a huge buzz around Sligo when it came to Rovers last year and there’s no reason why we cannot kick on now into 2025 and beyond. 

“It’s been too long since we’ve had silverware at the Showgrounds and it’s time to realise that ambition once more.”

Manager Russell says he is hugely enthused by Mahon’s decision to re-sign and is looking forward to seeing how far the young defender can go next season. 

“I’m delighted John has agreed to extend his stay at the club”, he says .

“He is a top class defender who brings an aggression and a winning mentality to the team. I love his desire to make tackles and blocks, and keep the ball out of the net.

“He has worked extremely hard in the background to recover from his injury and I know he is very driven for next season. John has all the attributes to become the best centre back in the league so it’s exciting to see what he can do next season. 

“He understands the club having come up through the academy and I’m sure our supporters will be excited he’s back.”

David Goulden

Winger Will Fitzgerald has signed a new two year deal with Sligo Rovers, the club are delighted to announce. 

The deal will extend the winger’s stay at the Showgrounds into his fourth year at the club having signed for the Bit O’Red back in December 2021. 

The Limerick native becomes the twelfth player to commit to Rovers for 2025 just a few weeks after his 100th appearance for the club.

The ex-Derry wide-man made his Rovers debut on the opening night of the 2022 season against St Pat’s in Inchicore and scored his first goal for the club in March of the same year, an unforgettable screamer from 18 yards against Drogheda in Louth. 

Speaking about his new deal, Fitzgerald says he is continuing to relish his time at Rovers, playing under John Russell. He is also fully aware of the strides the club is making off the pitch including the recent news of the LSSIF money confirmed for the development of the Showgrounds.  

“This is a club I have the utmost respect and admiration for, especially the supporters and those who keep the club thriving”, the 25-year-old says. 

“I feel I’m a valued member of the squad and I really want to play my part in what hopefully will be a successful future. 

“When you play under John, you know you’re playing under someone who knows how to lead the club in the right direction. I’m one of the senior players now, even at 25. I enjoy that responsibility and helping the younger lads. It’s good to show them the type of professionalism that is required to play at this level. 

“We were disappointed last season not to get Europe. But the signs are clear, this club is going in the right direction. We have a new kit deal and wheels are now in motion for the new stadium. It’s such an exciting time to be at Rovers and I want to be part of all that.” 

Describing Fitzgerald as a ‘great professional’, Russell welcomed the news of the contract extension. 

“The way Will trains, plays and conducts himself both on and off the pitch is a great example to any player no matter their age”, the Rovers boss says. 

“He is someone who brings tons of energy, aggression and quality. He’s heading towards his fourth season here and his performances keep getting better. 

“He will play a big part in 2025 both on and off the pitch and I know he’s a player the fans love to watch.” 

David Goulden