Sligo Rovers are seeking applications for the role of Head Coach of our Men’s Under 15 team for the 2023 season.

The position of Under-15 Men’s Head Coach is key to the ongoing development of our elite Academy players and will play a significant role in their development through this team and onto our Under 17’s, 19’s and or Men’s Senior team. The role will provide valuable experience for the successful candidate to work with an elite group of players in a professional environment.

Job Description

– Help the club achieve its vision to ‘Build a brand that is associated with excellence on and off the pitch for football, to be considered as an example of excellence and best practice, and one of the major developers of players within the country at academy, and eventually senior level’.
– The development and nurturing of a pool of elite players to facilitate their current and future success as individuals and as a team.
– Organise, plan and deliver a suitable player development programme in line with the FAI and Sligo Rovers coaching syllabus.
– Uphold the club’s code of conduct and implement the club’s vision on and off the pitch.
– Set high standards for the players both on and off the pitch.
– Create and maintain appropriate communication with players/parents/clubs/leagues and any stakeholders relevant to the team
– To work with the media in any area regarding Sligo Rovers FC.
– Ensure the club adheres to FAI rules and regulations and competition rules. 
– To ensure that all delivery satisfies the club safeguarding and welfare procedures 

Job Specification:
The ideal candidate will have skills and experience in the following areas:

Essential Criteria
– A current valid UEFA Elite Youth B Licence holder as a minimum.
– Successful candidate will be subjected to Garda vetting clearance. 
– Up-to-date Safeguarding 1 / Child Welfare Certificate.
– An ability to produce verbal and written reports.
– Access to both email and phone.
– Experience and enthusiasm for coaching and mentoring elite young players and coaches.

Desirable Criteria
– Administrative and organisational skills.
– Previous experience of coaching.
– Coach mentoring experience.

Abilities / Skills / Knowledge: 
– Has the leadership ability to inspire a team to play to their maximum potential
– Ability to communicate and implement the club’s philosophy as Head Coach.
– Excellent communication skills with the ability to build meaningful, strong strategic relationships with players, staff and officials.
– Understanding of learning, development and high performance with a proven ability to create optimum and challenging learning environments for players.

– Strong existing relationships within football in the North-West.
– Must be available for games/training at weekends and evenings.

To apply for this position, please email your CV with a cover letter by Monday, November 30^th at 5 pm to Conor O’Grady, Head of Academy, Sligo Rovers FC at ogrady.27@hotmail.com

Sligo Rovers can confirm Tom French has been appointed Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach at the club.

French has been a high performance coach for over two decades and previously served as a consultant with the club in 2020 and 2021.

Tom has a MSC in strength and conditioning as well as numerous qualifications relating to exercise and nutrition, athletics, weightlifting and recently completed a second Masters in Advanced Sports Performance.

He also holds a UEFA A licence.

The club has now recruited Tom on a full-time basis to lead our strength and conditioning first-team operation for the men’s first-team in 2024.

Manager John Russell: “I’m delighted to get Tom on board. I’ve known him for over 15 years. He is highly qualified and has worked with numerous sports teams over the years.

“He worked with the Galway hurling side where they reached two All-Ireland hurling finals.

“He managed Mervue in the First Division and assistant manager at Galway United with Ian Foster when I played there.

“He is a great guy and he will lead the programme for strength and conditioning for next season.

“He’s familiar with the club and shares our ambitions and goals.

“Tom will monitor the training loads in particular, to help keep the players fit and fresh, and he will be a big addition to our backroom team overall.”

Sligo Rovers are seeking applications for the role of Head Coach of our Women’s Under 19 team for the 2024 season.

The position of Under-19 Women’s Head Coach is key to the ongoing development of our elite Academy players and will play a significant role in their development through this team and onto our Women’s Senior team. The role will provide valuable experience for the successful candidate of working with an elite group of players in a professional environment.

Job Description

– Help the club achieve its vision to ‘Build a brand that is associated with excellence on and off the pitch for football, to be considered as an example of excellence and best practice, and one of the major developers of players within the country at academy, and eventually senior level’.
– The development and nurturing of a pool of elite players to facilitate their current and future success as individuals and as a team.
– Organise, plan and deliver a suitable player development programme in line with the FAI and Sligo Rovers coaching syllabus.
– Uphold the club’s code of conduct and implement the club’s vision on and off the pitch.
– Set high standards for the players both on and off the pitch.
– Create and maintain appropriate communication with players/parents/clubs/leagues and any stakeholders relevant to the team
– To work with the media in any area regarding Sligo Rovers FC.
– Ensure the club adheres to FAI rules and regulations and competition rules.  
– To ensure that all delivery satisfies the club safeguarding and welfare procedures 

Job Specification:
The ideal candidate will have skills and experience in the following areas:

Essential Criteria
– A current valid UEFA A Licence holder as a minimum.
– Successful candidate will be subjected to Garda vetting clearance. 
– Up-to-date Safeguarding 1 / Child Welfare Certificate.
– An ability to produce verbal and written reports.
– Access to both email and phone.
– Experience and enthusiasm for coaching and mentoring elite young players and coaches.

Desirable Criteria
– Administrative and organisational skills.
– Previous experience of coaching in the female game.
– Coach mentoring experience.

Abilities / Skills / Knowledge: 
– Has the leadership ability to inspire a team to play to their maximum potential
– Ability to communicate and implement the club’s philosophy as Head Coach.
– Excellent communication skills with the ability to build meaningful, strong strategic relationships with players, staff and officials.
– Understanding of learning, development and high performance with a proven ability to create optimum and challenging learning environments for players.

– Strong existing relationships within football in the North-West.
– Must be available for games/training at weekends and evenings.

To apply for this position, please email your CV with a cover letter by Wednesday, November 29th at 5pm to Conor O’Grady, Head of Academy, Sligo Rovers FC at ogrady.27@hotmail.com

2024 Season Tickets are now on sale with tickets in a number of different categories available.

Season tickets represent the best value option for attending Bit O’ Red fixtures with a saving of over three matches in the 2023 season if you were to pay on the night for each game.

You can buy your tickets online: https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2024/

Gold Season Tickets will be priced as an odd on of €60 which allows supporters to have their name on their chosen seat within the stadium. These seats will be applicable for all League and Cup games throughout the season, however supporters will need to purchase a single ticket for any cup games as normal.

An adult supporter will save €70 over the course of the season, with saving in all categories.

Super Reds receive their very own free gift and special invite to Meet and Greet with the Bit O’ Red squad.

Family rates will return again in 2024 as follows:

• 1 Adult + 2 Children Under 12: €400
• 2 Adults + 2 Children Under 12: €620

Our Women’s team will also have a 2024 Season Ticket at a special price of just €50 for the season.

Supporters have the option to include a WNL Season Ticket with their Men’s Season Ticket for just €25.

Both Season Tickets will be different in colour and design to be easily identifiable.

Club Treasurer David Rowe spoke to the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust podcast this week for an update on club matters.

You can listen here.

JR Wilson has become the first new signing for Sligo Rovers for the 2024 season.

Wilson has spent the majority of his career with Shelbourne and has also lined out for Bohemians and Bray Wanderers.

He made 31 appearances in all competitions last year with Shels as they finished fourth in the Premier Division.

Wilson pens an agreement for the new campaign and visited Sligo this morning.

The 24-year-old defender is excited about moving to the north-west to play for Rovers.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to being part of the club.

“The manager impressed me and convinced me sign here. He’s spoken to me a lot about the club and the season just gone. I know the plans he has and it’s exciting. He wants to build a new group and it was great to hear he wanted me to part of that.  

“I’ve met people around the club today and it’s really positive. I can’t wait to move down and begin training.”

Wilson already has a Bit O’ Red connection through 1994 treble winning team member Gerry Carr as a family friend and is friends with Gerry’s son.

“Gerry has been on to me already and telling me to sign! We went to the Cup finals in the 2010 eras so I know all about the club of course. It’s a massive club and it’s time to get it back up the table.

“It’s a big move for myself to leave Dublin. I wanted to be out of my comfort zone.

“That was another factor. It’s something different and something I really want to embrace.”

Rovers manager John Russell said: “I’ve always been a big fan of JR and have followed his career.

“He likes to get forward, create chances and can scores goals but primarily we’re bringing him in for his defensive qualities. He is aggressive in a one-on-one and a real competitor in every aspect. I’ve been really impressed by him and how he has taken the opportunity to leave the Dublin area and move down with us.

“He is looking for a new challenge and to make a big commitment. I think he has real leadership qualities. He’ll be 25 next month so he’s coming into a brilliant stage of his career and knows the league.”

Having made multiple changes to his squad, Russell added: “I’m trying to get good quality players to the club. It’s important to stay calm and bring the right players in. I’ll be patient, I know what I want, and it’s about identifying the type of players to bring in.

“It’s important we reset and it’s exciting we’re going to have a fresh team. We’ve got Reece Hutchinson on the left-side and JR on the right which gives us a great balance, two players who are adept at both defending and attacking in their positions.

“I’d like the supporters to know it will take time to build our entire squad. We’ve made a lot of changes knowing there had to be a reset. The players we bring here will be the right ones and we won’t just make a squad for the sake of it. This is a very good start for us.”

Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins has paid tribute to club captain David Cawley following confirmation of a parting ways with the Bit O’ Red following the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Cawley has written his name in Rovers history after making over 300 appearances for the club over two spells.

He is in the top 10 all-time appearance holders for Rovers, recently moving into seventh spot.

He won a league title, FAI Cup and Setanta Cup and has been a talisman for the Bit O’ Red since rejoining in 2018.

The Rovers chairman said: “David has been a vital figure for the club since first wearing the shirt over 11 years ago.

“We have been honoured to have him represent Sligo Rovers for many reasons. While some will consider the trophies and medals he won at the club the highlights, David’s longevity and impact over such a lengthy period of time is what stands him out as one of our greatest ever servants.

“He quickly understood what our club is about since those early days in 2012. His standing among our supporters, particularly our young fans and families, speaks volumes about him as a person and role model. We are very grateful for the example he played off the pitch.

“On the pitch he was someone we could always call on to demonstrate what it means to play for Sligo Rovers and put in countless memorable performances, leading to some very special days. We were thrilled to grant David a deserved testimonial this year.

“While we part ways now we know he will be a big part of our club’s history and will be forever welcome in The Showgrounds. We wish him and his family a wonderful future in life and in football and thank him for his incredible service at the club.”

WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW

PEAMOUNT UTD V SLIGO ROVERS

SATURDAY 11^th NOVEMBER 4.30PM

Sligo Rovers return to the venue where they took that tentative first step up to the senior grade for the first time in March 2022 when they travel to PRL Park in west Dublin to tackle the 2023 Women’s Premier Division (WPD) champions Peamount Utd in the final game of the season on Saturday, 4.30pm, live on TG4, writes Conall Collier

For Sligo Rovers manager Steve Feeney, this will be his last game in charge of the team as he is stepping down after two years at the helm due to work and family reasons.

While the result is irrelevant in terms of silverware, both teams will want to deliver a performance in front of the TG4 cameras with the live action a fitting tribute to the achievement this season of Peamount Utd manager James O’Callaghan, his backroom team and the players.

All the attention is focused on Peamount Utd and the trophy presentation will take place after the game.

However, this is a big opportunity for the Sligo Rovers players, and one they will relish, going into yet another game as underdogs.

Players like Lauren Boles, Leah Kelly, Eimear Lafferty and Amy Roddy all contributed handsomely to last week’s victory against DLR Waves while goalscorers Casey Howe and Jodie Loughrey will be eager to hit the target again as will Emma Doherty.

The objective will be to sign off with a battling performance and build on the momentum of the last few weeks where they established a three-game unbeaten home record in the WPD.

On the last visit to Dublin those battling qualities were evident when they went to the home of the 2022 champions, Shelbourne, and were unlucky to concede a goal in added time as the Dublin side salvaged a 2-1 victory.

All that was despite finishing with 10 players after Emma Handberry picked up a second yellow card.

Last weekend Sligo Rovers recorded a 2-1 home win against DLR Waves and those battling qualities were evident in the second-half as the players stood strong and were able to grind out a result that earlier this season might have eluded them.

And what of the Peamount Utd threat on Saturday?

Last weekend Galway Utd inflicted a 3-0 defeat on the champions and Peamount will certainly want to avoid a repeat of that performance in front of what should be a large crowd.

Avril Brierley and Freya Healy both had good chances for Peamount against Galway, but it was one of those days when nothing went favourably for the Dublin women.

Peamount also lost goalkeeper Niamh Coombes in the opening half and she was replaced by Niamh Reid-Burke

In mitigation, Peamount hadn’t played since they clinched the title on Saturday 14^th October with a 2-0 away win against Wexford in a game where Ellen Dolan was the stand out player with a brace of second-half goals that clinched the title.

Manager James O’Callaghan, a former player with Sligo Rovers some 30 years ago, will be looking forward to the occasion on Saturday and the players will be aiming to set the record straight seven days on from that reversal at Eamonn Deacy Park.

For Sligo Rovers, the players will be eager to make a statement to highlight the progress they have made since that opening day of the 2022 season when Peamount enjoyed a 6-0 victory.

WPD FORMGUIDE – LAST FOUR GAMES

Sligo Rovers 2, DLR Waves 1; Galway 3, Peamount Utd 0.

Shelbourne 2, Sligo Rovers 1; Wexford 0, Peamount Utd 2.

Sligo Rovers 3, Cork City 3; Peamount Utd 3, Treaty 1.

Sligo Rovers 4, Bohemian FC 1; Peamount Utd 5, Cork City 0.

Sligo Rovers can confirm manager John Russell will lead the club in the 2024 Men’s Premier Division season.

A statement from the club’s management committee read: “This has been a challenging and difficult season for all of our supporters and the wider club. 

“We have faith in John to move the club forward. Our priority is to build a squad for the new season and have a much improved year in 2024.

“As a young manager John will take the experience of this season and use it to move the side in a positive direction.”

Speaking in The Showgrounds this morning, Russell said: “I’m delighted to extend my contract and lead this club into the 2024 season.

“I’d like to thank the management committee for their trust despite a very challenging season where results have not been good enough.

“I know the areas where we need to improve and I have been very active in the background over the past few weeks in terms of recruitment, staff and structures around the first team.

“I am determined to bring success to this club. I have learned a lot throughout the tough moments and I believe this will stand to me and the team going into next season.

“I know the supporters have suffered this season and I understand their frustration.

“Now it’s vital that we reset and rebuild a team that will give everything on the pitch and represent this club.

“The hard work has already started and I’m excited for what lies ahead.”

Nine players have departed the club following the conclusion of the 2023 season

They are: Lukas Browning, Johan Brannefalk, Frank Livaak, Gary Boylan, Mark Byrne, Garry Buckley, Daniel Lafferty, Pedro Martelo and Robbie Burton.

The club wish the players the best in the future.