Sligo Rovers can confirm that Steve Feeney has stepped down from his role as Women’s First Team Manager. 

Feeney leaves the Showgrounds following his second stint as boss, guiding Rovers to a tenth placed finish in this year’s Women’s Premier Division. Feeney’s final game in charge was Saturday’s defeat to Athlone Town, the last game of the 2025 season. 

Initially appointed ahead of the Bit O’Red’s first season in competitive senior football back in December 2021, Feeney led Rovers for the next two years, guiding the club to an unprecedented first-ever Women’s FAI Cup semi-final in 2023. 

The Sligo native stepped down from his role a few weeks later, but was re-appointed last winter ahead of the current season. 

Citing family commitments as the main reason for his departure, the former Rovers midfielder told sligorovers.com of his pride having both played and managed at the club. He also mentioned how tough it was for him to step away. 

“I am at a point in my life where I get greater fulfillment and joy being present and my children’s games and activities than being at my own games and missing theirs”, he outlines.

“The season before this, when I wasn’t involved with Rovers, it gave me much more of a chance to be present with them at a lot more. Coming back to Rovers this season, it made me realise how much more I want to be there watching my kids enjoy their sports and their activities. As a manager of a Premier Division side, it just doesn’t allow you the time to do that unfortunately. 

“But it’s been a huge privilege for me to represent Rovers again. I loved playing for the club and loved managing at the club too. It’s always so hard not to stay involved but I will be supporting Rovers at all levels in 2026 and beyond. 

“I’m so grateful for the support I’ve always had from the club, the players, my staff and of course my family. It’s a massive undertaking managing a group of players and a backroom team on top of family life. I also have a full-time job too so it’s been so important for me that my family gives me so much support in everything I do. 

“The club has been fantastic too, throughout both my stints as manager. There are so many good people who work behind the scenes, unbeknownst to the public. Without them, we wouldn’t have Sligo Rovers and the people of Sligo wouldn’t have the great times and memories this club gives them.”

Noted for bringing through a host of players from Rovers’ Abbvie Academy to first team level, Feeney continued in his tireless efforts in further developing local talent this season. 

“There’s so much work done locally here in Sligo and the north west by a lot of really good people who give their time to the game”, Feeney continued. 

“The standard is improving all the time, especially at Rovers. The work the underage coaches do is phenomenal and you can see by how many girls the club has brought through from underage to senior level. 

“There’s a lot going on behind the scenes at the Showgrounds at both men’s and women’s level. If it all works out and with the right people involved, I know the women’s team will continue to grow and thrive. It will not and has not been easy as the league is so tough. But if the right people are backing them, these girls and this club have more than enough in them to have more success at all levels.” 

A player with the club from 2000 to 2010, Feeney was part of the men’s side who achieved promotion from the First Division twenty years ago. He went on to play four more years with the club, featuring in European and cup winning squads. He also played with Monaghan, Galway, Athlone and Ballinamallard. 

“Working with the players, the staff and the club as a whole has been a great joy for me”, Feeney says. 

“It hasn’t happened for us every weekend, but seeing the players show on occasion what they are capable of has been hugely satisfying and I really hope whoever comes in after me can take them on to the next level as they are definitely good enough. 

“The girls have been such a pleasure to work with. I am really looking forward to seeing those girls who broke through this season going on and becoming important, senior players for our club. 

“Geographically, we don’t have the biggest pool of players to pick from that other teams may have. So it’s so vital that the work that’s been done at underage and local league level keeps up as it’s important that these young girls play to a high level locally and then have the belief that they are good enough to play with Rovers when the time comes. This will help us hugely when it comes to competing in the League of Ireland.” 

Acknowledging Feeney’s contribution, Sligo Rovers Chairperson Tommy Higgins said: “We would like to thank Steve for his trojan work throughout the last year and stretching back to when the club joined the women’s Premier Division. Steve has played a huge part in the establishment and development of Sligo Rovers within women’s football across all levels and the club is forever grateful for his input. We wish him and his family all the best going forward.” 

The process of appointing a new women’s first team manager will soon get underway and the club will update supporters in due course. 

David Goulden