| Manager updates contract positions |
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| Thursday, 07 December 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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With pre-season training pencilled in for 18 January, Sligo Rovers manager Rob McDonald is confident that his plans for the new season are taking shape.
The native of Hull has been spending recent weeks searching for up to eight new players who will put the finishing touches to the squad that he believes will build on the club’s recent success. Speaking at a press conference in the Radisson last night (Wed 6 Dec), McDonald re-iterated his commitment to developing the youth structures in a way that local players would have a real career path to the highest level of domestic soccer and beyond. In announcing his plans, he again praised all the players who were departing the club commenting that he had ‘great respect for what they did for the club.’ Club chairman, Michael Toolan, strongly echoed those sentiments and wished all players moving on the very best in their future careers. He singled out former captain, Michael McNamara for special mention and he wished him well in his his return to inter-county GAA, The departure of so many players leaves a gap in the spine of the team, but McDonald is close to signing a keeper from overseas, following the return of John O’Hara to America. “We’ve lost a very good ‘keeper, a good pro and a fine human being but we have to move on. People won’t have seen enough of Richard last year to realise just how good he is, and I believe with another ‘keeper coming in, I’ll have the kind of competition I need in the position.” Apart from McNamara in the back-line, Liam Burns is out of contract and is considering offers from two eircom League clubs at the moment. “I don’t want to lose Liam, he’s a very good player - but neither do I want to get into a three way auction for one of my players and I’m waiting for an answer from Liam this weekend before discussing terms. In midfield, the manager’s disappointment that Conor O’Grady was not going to be part of the set-up was palpable, as O’Grady had been ‘fantastic’ in his dealings with him. It would appear that Rob reluctantly now accepts that he will now have to look elsewhere for the holding midfield role that he had earmarked for the former Summerhill man. There is still some uncertainty about the future of Harpal Singh, who is under contract for another year with the club, but has indicated that he is home-sick and wishes to return to the Leeds area. Up front is where the biggest exodus has occurred with Sean Flannery, John Bellw, Paul McTiernan, Darren Mansaram and Matt Judge all departing. “Sean has been very honest in his dealings with me. He’s a good lad whose heart is with Sligo, but it’s important that he gets fits and recovers from injury and gets match. practice before we look at him again. “Young Bellew is a raw talent, strong, determined, a 100% kind of lad, but he needs and deserves full time football to improve and he wouldn’t get that here at the moment. He’s welcome to train with the under 21s and I will definitely follow his progress. “I was annoyed that people were saying that Matt Judge was going before I even spoke to him - we only spoke on Tuesday last. I’ve watched him on DVD and I believe that Matt needs to play off a big striker in a two striker system. I’m looking for a big number nine to play in a 4:3:3 system, and cause havoc and unfortunately, Matt doesn’t fit that bill. I have offered him the option of him going to Holland, once he gets fit. "I made contact with Paul McTiernan, but he told me that he didn't wish to play with Sligo Rovers" “Darren Mansaram was out of contract and has left the club. He said that he wants to try his luck back in England.” The new manager has also been in touch with some Sligo natives playing both in Ireland and England, to check about their availability and he will be keeping close eyes on their progress / availability. In terms of the backroom team, Rob confirmed that Leo Tierney will continue as goalkeeping coach, but that Gareth Gorman would not be part of the first team set-up due to his work commitments. The new manager is also hoping to bring a full-time physio from Holland to The Showgrounds. Full squad news
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