Sligo Rovers are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Padraig Scanlon in Riverstown.

Padraig was a lifelong supporter of the club, who is pictured receiving the “Sligo Rovers Merit Award” back in 2017 in the Clayton Hotel Sligo.

A gentleman that will be missed by so many in The Showgrounds.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at the difficult time.

Sligo Rovers can confirm that, through the work of the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust, new hospitality facilities will be installed at The Showgrounds.

Modular buildings, similar to those currently in use at the ground for offices, are being installed and earmarked for use in hosting supporters, visitors and social gatherings.

The buildings have been purchased by the Trust through their fundraising activities.

Forthcoming events held by the supporters group will be used to furnish the building.  

Sligo Rovers chairman Martin Heraghty said: “Every Sligo Rovers fan is proud of The Showgrounds, not just in appearance, but in the facilities we have that serve our club and our community.

“We do our very best to maintain the ground and improve it. Understandably, so much of our resources are tied up in the day-to-day running of the club, and likewise the fundraising for the club is geared towards it. It simply has to be or we wouldn’t be able to function.

“There is no doubt that one of the things we have been lacking is hospitality areas. We have many visitors to the ground, especially on match day, and we have been crying out for a new facility to host receptions and events.

“The Trust have been very active in pursuing this. We said we were open to it and it has materialised quite quickly. I don’t think too many Supporters Trusts would take on such a project, it shows ambition and determination to improve our club. We are a club run by our members, driven by our supporters and this is one of the finest examples of that you will ever see. It is the spirit of Sligo Rovers. 

“There is a lot of work to be done. I can’t go in specifics just yet on what exactly the new facilities will be used for or a timeframe for when they will be available, but that will come in time.”

The club would like to express our gratitude to the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust for their work in developing this project. 

Meanwhile we can also confirm that the upcoming bingo fundraiser will also be used towards Showgrounds development and the running of the club.  

Sligo Rovers U17 manager Ryan Casey has confirmed that he will be hosting open trials this coming Sunday from 5pm until 7pm on the Showgrounds Astro.

Players attending are asked to be on site by the latest 4.30pm and must bring their own training gear.

Anyone who is interested in attending must register for the event by emailing their Name, DOB & Preferred Position to ryan.casey101@gmail.com

Sligo Rovers can confirm two upcoming friendly games as we prepare for the new season.

Rovers will take on Galway United at the home of Castlebar Celtic in Mayo on Saturday 26 January, kick-off 2pm.

The following Saturday 2 February we travel again to take on Athlone Town at Athlone Town Stadium. Kick-off will be 4pm.

Three more friendly games will be announced shortly.

Ryan Casey has been appointed as manager of the Sligo Rovers Under-17 team.

Casey was assistant manager of the senior side for a period in 2017, while he has also worked as regional development officer for the FAI.

He previously managed Castlebar Celtic senior side and was a Director of Coaching at US Development Academy Club Everton FC Westchester, based in Connecticut.

Casey will be assisted by Packie Lynch.

The club would like to thank former Under-17 management Colm Jinks and Danny O’Leary for their excellent work.

They have stepped down with Casey and Lynch set to take over for the coming season.

Sligo Rovers return for pre-season today with manager Liam Buckley revealing that friendlies have been finalised and further signings are set to occur next week.

Ronan Murray, Dante Leverock, Johnny Dunleavy, Regan Donelon, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Mitchell Beeney, Ed McGinty, John Mahon, Jack Keaney, David Cawley, Kris Twardek, Liam Kerrigan, Niall Morahan and Luke MacNicholas is the current Rovers squad along with player-assistant John Russell.

The group will assemble for the first time on Thursday evening ahead of the first session.

Buckley said: “We’ve our pre-season games lined up and will confirm them shortly. We can’t formally announce them just yet.

“We’ll be looking at pre-dominantly away matches with one on the main Showgrounds pitch. We hope to announce five to six games soon with the exact details.

“In terms of signings, it’ll be a few more days before we can announce more additions but good progress has been made and we’ve one or two more that are very close.

“I’ve been here just over two months, signed some what I think will be good players and I could go sign more players for the sake of it. That isn’t what we’re about. We want players that will make an impact at Sligo Rovers and that come from good backgrounds to make a difference here.

“We’re looking at next week. There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes and it takes time and patience to get things over the line.

“We’ll have the players in tonight for a meeting ahead of being on the pitch tomorrow. The games will start in or around two weeks’ time. We’ve been going about our business behind the scenes to get a good squad raring to go that first game of the season and you’ll see the fruits of that over the next while.”