John Russell has moved again to further strengthen his side with the return of striker Luke Pearce to the club on an 18 month deal subject to international transfer clearance.
Pearce, 22, spent the second half of the 2024 season on loan at the Showgrounds from Cardiff City. A spell which saw the Republic of Ireland underage international score twice in 13 appearances, netting in games against Galway United both at the Showgrounds and in Eamonn Deacy Park.
Pearce’s addition brings to three the number of signings Russell has made in the current window following the arrival of fellow attackers Jamie O’Donnell and Jamie McGonigle.
The former Walsall and Southampton man returned to Cardiff at the end of the 2024 season and went on to make his first team debut for the Bluebirds in an FA Cup win over Sheffield United the following January.
He spent the last few months of his time under contract at the Welsh club on loan at Finnish club IFK Mariehamn.
“I’m buzzing to be back and to have the opportunity to play here again”, he tells sligorovers.com.
“To be back playing under John is huge for me. He’s told me how much he believes in me and the faith that he has in what we’re doing here.
“It’s time now for me to repay that faith by getting in the team, scoring goals and winning games.
“I believe I did well when I was here first and now I want to build on that.”
Even after his initial stint in Sligo came to an end, family ties to the north west always drew Luke’s attention back to Rovers given that his mother was born in Sligo.
And with six players including Ollie Denham and Gareth McElroy still plying a trade at the Showgrounds from Luke’s previous time here, he says the intrinsic desire to build something special remains.
“Myself and my family have always kept an eye out for Rovers and how we’ve been doing”, Luke continues.
“It’s great now to be able to have the chance to affect those results again.
“I’ve kept in touch with a few of the lads who were here when I was here first and they always speak so positively about the club and the vision that management have. The hunger to press on even against the odds is certainly still here.
“It’s about building momentum now. Picking up a few good results and building on that. I think the last two or three games, I’ve watched them and we haven’t picked up the results we’ve deserved so it’s time now that we started to collect a few good results and that starts on Saturday hopefully.”
Pearce’s 13 game stay definitely made an impression on his manager who was keen to get the striker back to Sligo as soon as his contract in Wales expired.
“We believe we have the right environment here to push Luke on to the next level and continue his development”, Russell says.
“We’re excited to see what he can achieve here and it’s a big opportunity for him.
“Luke and his family know Sligo, he knows Rovers, our supporters and what they expect of him and the club.
“He made a really positive impression here during his last spell here. He’s young, hungry and has similar characteristics to his new team mates in that he works hard for the team. He has the ability of scoring all different types of goals and we’re looking forward to seeing him out there.”
David Goulden