Sligo Rovers FC can confirm discussions have taken place with FAI officials in recent days.

Club officials met with the FAI on Thursday and Friday, along 18 other clubs from the League of Ireland.

The Bit O’ Red are not in a position to go into details at this time.

The situation remains complex, with many variables, and various talks will continue from next week.

The management committee remain in constant dialogue and we will provide an update as soon as it is appropriate.

We ask for continued patience for which we are grateful.

All involved with Sligo Rovers, in particular the Sligo Rovers Astro League, were saddened to hear of the passing of Carl Gethins.  

A resident of Jinks Avenue, Carl lived in the shadow of the Showgrounds and lived for football between his love for the Bit O ’Red and of course Liverpool as well.

He worked over the years with Greenstar and on community schemes in the Showgrounds, in Merville, and was a hard worker who was well liked by all.

At Rovers, he was best known for his involvement in the Astro League.

He was involved from the start in helping the league being set up, he was at nearly every game and completed every job possible, including as chairman of the league as well.

The fact the league remains strong is a fitting memorial to all the hard work that he put in.

He will be missed by all around the Showgrounds, by his friends, and of course most by his family, he loved his nieces and nephews and was so proud of their achievements, especially when his nephew Glen was playing for Rovers.

May he Rest in Peace. Funeral details will follow in due course.

Following on from Friday’s government announcement, we are currently assessing the possibility of hosting our popular summer camps in the coming weeks at The Showgrounds.

The club is aware that it has been a difficult time for children over the last few months, and like every summer, our summer camps are a way for our young supporters to enjoy themselves and have some fun on their school holidays.

We will look at all avenues surrounding a safe environment for coaches, children and the families they will go home to.

We will issue more information as soon as possible.

We would like to take the time during these uncertain times to thank the people who have helped us up until now.

Our partners, Fit Food Meals continue to deliver healthy meals nationwide from their base in Galway. Fit Food Meals was established in 2019 and has quickly grown due to their high-quality meals and convenient delivery service. We aligned with them due to their passion for great taste, results and advancing human potential through convenience and bespoke nutrition.

They have assisted our senior players by providing them with personalised meals to optimise their performance on and off the pitch since the launch of our partnership in January. They have been an essential part of the player’s healthy lifestyle and will continue to help them when football resumes.

If you are interested in levelling up your nutrition, you can go to their website www.fitfoodmeals.ie , you won’t regret it!”

Our players and staff from under 13 to senior are currently taking part in team fundraising challenges to raise money for the club’s charity partner, Sligo Cancer Support Centre.

Before the cessation of football in this country, we were delighted to link up with the centre, with the charity becoming our charity partner in 2020.

Each team has taken on a challenge and will then make an individual donation to Sligo Cancer Support Centre on completion.

Sligo Cancer Support Centre is a place of peace and hope where people with cancer and their families can access support, counselling, holistic therapies and healing workshops in a caring and tranquil environment in the North West of Ireland. A place where no one feels alone on their journey to recovery.

Keep an eye out on our social media pages where you can see our teams taking part in their challenges.

If you wish to donate, you can do so through the following link:

http://www.sligocancersupportcentre.ie/fundraising/make-a-donation/

Sligo Rovers and Cork City say that unity will be important for the league going forward as the sides are set to face off in a unique fundraising match to be played virtually this weekend.

The game, hosted by the Bit O’ Red, will take place on the night the teams were due to play in The Showgrounds in the SSE Airtricity League.

Club staff have been busy preparing for the game all week, while the Rovers fans have picked the side to line out in the game. Gate receipts have already totaled thousands of euro to give some relief in difficult times and likely even harder to come.

A match programme has been created, a half-time raffle will take place and a video walk through of the ground as you take your seat will also be part of the night.

The e-programme will be a souvenir item with lots of different features, with Tommie Gorman and Tony O’Donoghue writing articles over 24 pages.

Click here to buy the package of match ticket, programme and raffles

The match will be broadcast live on YouTube, played on FIFA 20, with commentary from RTE Sport’s Adrian Eames and analysis from Alan Cawley of Soccer Republic.

RTE Soccer Correspondent Tony O’Donoghue will bring us the team news ahead of the game.

A bundle package of a match ticket, programme, half-time and full-time raffle is €20 with proceeds going to the club.

An individual match ticket is just €10. All items are listed here

Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins said: “For me it is brilliant to be able to hold this event with another club in tandem. We need unity going forward and I think there will be that.

“On Saturday we see two clubs coming together for a virtual game that will not only raise some vital funds but brings the League of Ireland community together as well.

“That is important. We all want to be back playing football as soon as possible and we wait and see how that will pan out.

“There are many different types of clubs in the league. One thing Sligo Rovers and Cork City share is superb fan bases and they are run by their supporters.

“Those supporters are coming out on Saturday night, albeit in their own homes, and I’m delighted to welcome Declan Carey and his colleagues to the virtual Showgrounds.

“This is going to be a great evening of entertainment. I’ve watched some of the contributions already and I think people will be surprised by the quality of the broadcast.

“There is archive, interviews, guests from the media world, raffles. It’s the closest thing we can have at the moment so I would encourage all our fans to watch with us.

“We’re offering tickets from just €10, or €20 with the programme and raffles, and it will be great value for money when you see the product on your screens on Saturday.”

The Sligo Rovers 500 Club has turned into the most important aspect of fundraising for the club as it is our only income stream at the moment.

The draw for March took place last week with Kathleen Burns claiming the top prize.

Conducted by chief executive of Sligo Rovers, Colin Feehily, and organised by 500 club chairman Vincent Nally and committee member Robbie Fitzpatrick, it was done using social distancing methods and with government guidance in mind.

At €20 a month, there is a chance to win some of the €13,400 on offer each year and all proceeds go to Sligo Rovers through the 500 Club, headed by Vincent.

To join click here

March results:

€500 – Kathleen Burns – Cliffoney
€100 – Marcel Gordon – Strandhill
€100 – Karl McGowan – Ballymote
€100 – Al Murphy – Pearse Road
€100 – David Rouse – Dublin
€100 – Brian Scanlon – Molloway Place
€50 – Donal Kearns – Grange
€50 – Michael Donegan – Cartron Point
€50 – Niall Barlow – Riverstown
€50 – Ray Gallagher – Strandhill Road

Sligo Rovers will play Cork City on the night the teams were due to play in the SSE Airtricity League as virtual becomes reality.

On the night of Saturday 16 May, the Bit O’ Red will meet the Rebels and we will bring you The Showgrounds experience.

The two clubs are coming together for this joint fundraiser. Tickets will be sold by both clubs. 

A match programme, half-time raffle and video walk through of the ground as you take your seat will be present. 

The e-programme will be a souvenir item with lots of different features. 

Click here to buy the package of match ticket, programme and raffles

The event will be as close to a live television production as possible, with guest interviews and there’ll also be half-time musical entertainment. 

Manager Liam Buckley will give his pre-match press conference to the media next week and we’ll also be going through the archives to look back on some of the memorable games between the sides in the last 30 years to whet your appetite.

Supporters will select the Sligo Rovers team to play on the night through a series of social media polls as we build up throughout the week, and we’ll have updates from players on how training has been going to help you choose. 

Cork City will have visiting supporters with their ticket sales going directly to the Rebels. 

The match will be broadcast live on YouTube, played on FIFA 20, with commentary from RTE Sport’s Adrian Eames and analysis from Alan Cawley of Soccer Republic. RTE Soccer Correspondent Tony O’Donoghue will bring us the news ahead of the game. 

We are looking to bring you real match night experience, and for you to show us your #bitored from home on the night. 

More features will be added as we build up over the next two weeks, including we as reveal the live interview guests. 

A bundle package of a match ticket, programme, half-time and full-time raffle will be €20 with proceeds going to the club. An individual match ticket is just €10. All items are listed here https://srfcdirect.com/virtual-match/

Sligo Rovers chief executive Colin Feehily said: “This is a night to bring the Sligo Rovers community together as best we can. 

“We will endeavour to bring The Showgrounds experience to your screen. The Interactive Quiz was a huge success because it brought all of us together for one night and lots of laughs on the way.

“The game will be competitive and you will be directly involved in how we do. It’s time to put points on the board!“

Cork chairman Declan Carey added: “We are delighted to take part in what is another great fundraising initiative by a League of Ireland club. What these times have taught us is that it’s important to pull together in times of need.

“We haven’t kicked a ball since March 6^th but this “off-season” certainly doesn’t feel like a traditional one. Clubs are as active as they can be on online channels and social media. CCFC has ramped up our merchandise operation and fundraising efforts and the response has been fantastic.

“We keep a close on other clubs and how they’re dealing with it, and as always, Sligo and their fans are a credit to their town.

“Together we look forward to what will be a fun night for both sets of fans.”