Aaron Greene statement about his departure from The Showgrounds:

"The club has done everything for me. I asked the PFAI could I move and they said I was not contracted to the club under the agreement. I’m 22 and I have two kids and together with my girlfriend we have our family here in Riverstown. My son is about the age where he is about to start school. I don’t think a lot of players stay at club for nine or 10 years in the League of Ireland at the moment and absolutely no disrespect to the club but I wasn’t going to be. Our house is in Dublin and I think my son was always going to go to school up there. It isn’t about Shamrock Rovers or Sligo Rovers. It is purely personal and I have nothing but good words for Sligo.

"It created some wonderful times for my family and I and without Sligo Rovers I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in. I will never forget the day I won my Under-21 cap at The Showgrounds and when I had 20 or 30 of my family down that day. The roar I got when I come on…..they asked if I was like Joseph Ndo down here and that to me was something I will never forget.

"The last thing I want is to leave on bad terms with the Sligo Rovers fans. They have been amazing to me and my family. I’ve even got close to some of ours fans as friends and in no way do I mean to upset anybody by joining Shamrock Rovers. I know when I return as a Shamrock Rovers player that I might get a bad reception but I never meant to leave in this way and it is just a decision that is best for my family.

"My kids have gotten close with Jay McGuinness’s daughter and Gavin Peers' son - it was not an easy decision. I want to thank the chairman who has been nothing but open and honest with me and of course Keith and Ivor. Ivor set us up here, created a community for us to live as a family and to me that is what the whole thing has been about.

"Finally I want to thank the supporters again. The day I made my appearance for the U21s and the reception I got was something I and or my family will never forget. I hope to return to Sligo as much as possible this year with the games on Saturday night because I have some great memories here, it has made a massive difference in my career and it a wonderful club with special fans.

"I wish the new manager the best of luck and I know he has a great bunch of lads there who are ready to compete for the title this season and I thank everyone for what they did in my time at the club."