Darren Purse has added experience and attacking power to his Sligo Rovers squad with the addition of both Luke Young and Kaiyne Woolery, both of whom have joined the club on deals until the end of the current season.
Young, 33, is an accomplished central midfielder and brings with him to the Bit O’Red, the experience of almost 600 senior career appearances in English football, including time with Wrexham, Plymouth and Cheltenham Town.
While winger Woolery, who can play up top is 31 and arrives at the Showgrounds following spells in the UK, Greece and Turkey.
Both players have signed subject to international transfer clearance and the club is hopeful both will be available for Saturday’s Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup tie with Kerry at the Showgrounds.
A former club captain at Wrexham, Young began his career alongside his new manager Purse and assistant Warren Feeney at Plymouth. Here, all three helped the Pilgrims survive relegation from the football league with two games to spare, despite being nine points adrift mid-way through the season.
Young was a regular feature in the Wexham side which won the National League in 2023 and finished runner-up in League Two a year later.
“He’s had an exceptional career and is someone myself and Warren know really well”, Purse tells sligorovers.com.
“Luke is in our position now when we were at Plymouth given that we were the elder statesmen. It’s not surprising to me how well he’s done in his career and hopefully he can help us do what he, myself and Warren did at Plymouth all those years ago and stay in the division.
“We’ve got some good young talent in our squad but they need some help. Both Luke and Kaiyne are that little but older. I think they’ll help not only the younger boys but also lads like Carl McHugh who is a lone voice a little bit and Gareth McElroy who’s an exceptional young leader and I feel the new boys can bring him on.
“We’ve had a lot of offers of younger players here but I don’t think that’s what we need at this moment. It’s taken a week or two longer to bring them in, but I wasn’t happy with just signing anyone. I want to sign the right ones that give us the best possible chance of getting out of the position we’re in.”
Six points off safety but with a full round of games yet to play, Plymouth native Young says he is keen to repay the trust shown in him by his former team-mates and is ready to go to battle as Rovers attempt to pull off a great escape of our own.
“I know the manager from playing with him at Plymouth when I was a young pro. I was in touch with him shortly after he became boss here and the move came from there”, Young says.
“It’s great to come to a club where you are wanted and Darren knows exactly what I’m like, both as a player and a person. He made it very clear to me that he wanted me at the club and now it’s time for me to prove I’m good enough to earn his trust and that of the fans and club.
“I’ve done my research into the league and the club. I won’t say I know too much about either but I do know it’s a tricky league to play in. It seems any team can beat any team really and to me that is part of the challenge, to be on top of your game every week. I’m looking forward to it.
“We’re obviously not in the best situation in terms of the league table. But we need to hit that challenge full on. I’ve had my experiences with relegation battles and have come out the right end of them. Hopefully my time at Rovers will be no different. Any little bit of help I can give, I will.
“I’ll do my best to squeeze every ounce of experience I have out of myself and drive up standards. I’m here to fight and to try and make sure this club is still in the Premier Division come the winter.”
Winger Woolery is a native of Hackney in London who most recently lined out for League Two side Tranmere Rovers who he assisted in avoiding the drop.
His career spans fifteen or so years and has brought him from England to Motherwell in Scotland and Sakaryaspor in Turkey to Ionikos in Greece.
“He was in a battle with Tranmere last year and we spoke with plenty of people around Tranmere”, Purse says.
“What kept coming back to me was the message that Kaiyne is the sort of person you’d go to war with. And that’s what you want when you’re fighting to stay in a division. He’s experienced, athletic and wants to run in behind. He brings versatility to our front line, which we maybe lack at the moment.”
“I like to play with power, be direct and carry the team up the pitch and play in behind or on the counter”, Woolery states.
“It only takes a few good results and you’re right back in amongst the other teams in the division and that’s what I’m here to help do.
“What’s exciting for me is that anything can happen. We have a full round of games still to go so there’s plenty of time for anything to happen and we’ve got the cup to look forward to.
“I’m delighted to work with Darren as he has so much experience in the game and plays football the way I like to play so I’m excited to see how we can implement his style on our own. Hopefully it works out now and we get back to winning ways.”
David Goulden