Sligo Rovers can confirm Romeo Parkes will leave the club this month for personal reasons.

Following consultation between the player and club in recent weeks, it has become clear that Romeo must stay in North America for 2020.

The Bit O’ Red have agreed to facilitate this request.

He will shortly join a club in the US, who will take over his contract for 2020.

Rovers retain an option for the 2021 season.

Liam Buckley said: “This decision relates to an important aspect of Romeo’s life, his long-term future,and while he is under contract, we have to look at it from a human level.

“He was looking forward to building on his fine first season and we’ve been in contact throughout the off-season in relation to this matter. We had hoped it wouldn’t come to this. Unfortunately it has.

“We hope to see him back in Sligo one day and we wish him well. Now our focus turns to a replacement.

“The staff and I have already been pursuing that. A new striker will not arrive immediately but we hope to line something up later in the month. When we can, we’ll speak about that further.”

Romeo Parkes said: “I’d like to thank the manager and the club for facilitating this. I am sad not to be returning to Sligo in 2020 because I really enjoyed my year.

“I want to give my appreciation to the fans, they were very supportive all year and I’m sorry I won’t be back next season. I have obligations to fulfil where I am.

“I want to wish all the guys good luck in the 2020 season, I’ll be supporting Sligo and hope one day to wear the jersey again.”

With 2020 upon us, it’s time to get planning your Sligo Rovers season.

Download the fixtures for the first-team to your smart phone and Outlook account here.

Click on the link below and add to calendar

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Get your Sligo Rovers season ticket here

Sligo Rovers are set to return to pre-season on Friday as our 2020 squad assemble for the first time.

Rovers have six weeks of build-up to the first league game – a meeting away to Finn Harps on 14^th February.

Speaking to www.sligorovers.com, Buckley said: “As I’ve mentioned the players have been ticking over in the last couple of months with their programmes and they return formally tomorrow (Friday). We’ll have a couple of meetings and do a light session.  

“That will continue into the weekend. We’ll be assessing the players and go from there. The management staff and I have formulated the plan over the next six weeks. We have to be fit and ready to go from that first night in Ballybofey. It’s also a long season ahead and you see by the fixture list that the games come thick and fast. It’s all factored in and we’re excited to get going.”

Buckley said he will give an update on the group he is working with before the weekend, adding it will take a bit more time to finalise the squad, although much of the recruitment has been completed.

“Behind the scenes there is a lot of activity, that hasn’t really stopped. We’re exploring all avenues.

“We’re trying to squeeze as much as we can out of the budget. We’ve gone for quality in terms of recruitment and to finish that off we need the right players. We’re confident it will come off in time.”

In terms of pre-season friendlies, the Rovers boss said he hopes to add formal dates soon with games lined up and awaiting approval before announcement.

“Yes, the schedule is pretty much locked in. One change you’ll see this year is we’re going to play some pre-season games in Dublin at the FAI facility in Abbotstown.

“It’s not easy getting games in the region, you’ll find that teams in the Dublin area won’t always travel as they have plenty of potential opposition around them. More so we don’t want to use our pitch at this time of year as well.

“We want to give it a complete break and we looked after it in the closing stages of last year so there will be an improvement. I can’t stress how important that is to us going forward because we want the surface to be in the best possible condition. There is a lot of work going into it.

“There’s the facility in Dublin where we can play on grass against First Division sides and if the weather is inclement, then there is an astro pitch as well so the game will definitely go ahead.

“Our first game will be in Mayo in a couple of weeks and there’ll be another one or two in places close to us. Again the dates are tailored around our training. We hope to announce them all soon.”

Look out for more pre-season content over the weekend  

500 Club Results – Click here to join the 500 Club

October

€500 – Sean McGowan, Tonnaphubble
€100 – Stephen Wickham, Calry
€100 – Vincent Hannon Assoc, Abbey St
€100 – John Joe Gilroy, Hazelwood
€100 – Tony Wehrly, O’Connell St
€100 – Marty Oates, Treacy Avenue
€50 – Al Murphy, Pearse Road
€50 – Mark Mullholland, Markievicz Road
€50 – Frank Ballantyne, Strandhill Road
€50 – Kevin Fitzsimons, Cairns Hill

November

€500 – Michael Gallagher, Crossmolina, Mayo
€100 – Joe Finan, Oakfield Road
€100 – Michael Cox, Strandhill Road
€100 – Terence Leyden, Ballybofey, Donegal
€100 – Seamus Cummins, Hazelwood
€100 – Maeve Conway, Cliffoney, Sligo
€50 – Mark Killorn, Pearse Road
€50 – Eamonn McManus, Knappagh Road
€50 – Conor Sheeran, Foxrock, Dublin
€50 – Michael Leonard, Blackrock

The winner of the Sligo Rovers Christmas Draw was Joe Gillen.

Congratulations to Joe on his top prize win which was €500 but his luck really was in as he was also drawn out again later with another entry, this time for the stay in the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny.  All the results are below.

The Bit O’ Red are extremely grateful for the generosity received for this year’s Christmas Draw, including the public who supported us so well on Friday night as we sold tickets in businesses and public houses. Thank you to the owners for facilitating this.

€13,000 was raised from the draw in total.

We want to thank our office staff Frank, Sandra and Shane for their hard work and dedication in helping co-ordinate the draw and the volunteers who helped sell so many books of tickets.

Their efforts are appreciated by all at the club

1. Joe Gillen, Oakfield Road– €500
2. Roger Cawley, Enniscrone– Two Westlife tickets in Pairc Ui Chaoimh
3. Joe Gillen, Oakfield Road – Two nights in Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny
4. Frank Arthur– 2020 Sligo Rovers season ticket 
5. Ciaran McDonagh, Green Road – 2 x Republic of Ireland Nations League game tickets 
6. Sinead Magee– Christmas Hamper
7. Martin Rogers, Union Walk – Dinner for two in the Clayton Hotel 
8. John Lee, Ballinode – 2020 Sligo Rovers jersey 

Earlier this year our sponsor Wehrly’s Jewellers met with the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust about making a watch with a Sligo Rovers link.

The idea simply took off from there as Richard Wehrly explains.

Richard Wehrly said: “A couple of months ago, I approached the Bit O’Red Supporters Trust with an idea about doing a watch with a small Sligo Rovers twist, such as an engraving on the back, with a goal of raising money for the Trust and ultimately the club.

“They raised the bar and asked about a Sligo Rovers watch, would it be possible? 

“At the time, I wasn’t sure we could develop a watch that would be fashionable, good quality and maintain a reasonable price tag in such a short space of time but thanks to a fantastic Irish supplier we were able to design and develop the limited edition watch as you see it today. 

“It has exceeded our expectations and as usual Sligo Rovers fans have put their hands in their pockets to support the club they love.

“It has been a fantastic experience, and one that shows what sport is all about, 

“Sligo Rovers is a community club, the fans make it what it is and we are very proud to be supporters of such a great club. 

“We presented a cheque for €5,000 to the Bit O’Red Supporters Trust so they can continue their great work in supporting and promoting Sligo Rovers.”

Clive Hynes of the Trust said: “The product produced was very classy and proved extremely popular, so much so that now the watch sold out very quickly, much faster that anyone could have anticipated.

“We are lucky to have such keen sponsors and of course the fans that purchased them really made it a success. I’d like to thank Richard for his help with this fundraiser and for recognising the work of the Trust.”

Gerard O’Connor of the Trust added: “This is one of many ideas we tried to bring in this year and well done to all the lads. 

“We handed over the €5,000 cheque directly to the club for their use.”

Chief executive Colin Feehily said: “The management committee would like to thank all at Wehrly’s for their ongoing support and the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust who have put in an unspeakable amount of work this year. It’s no exaggeration to say they have transformed certain areas of the club. 

“Their novel thinking and work ethic has brought in vital funds and added a social aspect to the club. We are very grateful to have such volunteers trying to make the club better with each day that passes.”

Sligo Rovers will begin the new Premier Division season away to Finn Harps on Friday 14 February.

The first home game is Friday 21 September against St Patrick’s Athletic.

View all fixtures here

Sligo Rovers were honoured by the Soccer Writers of Ireland by winning League of Ireland Website of the Year on Tuesday night.

Rovers were one of three clubs nominated for the award alongside Shelbourne and Waterford.

The Bit O’ Red were voted winners with club PRO Rory Houston saying the award was testament to the volunteer spirit of the club.

He added that the passing of club president Eddie McCullough in recent days reminded everyone of how important volunteerism is to Sligo Rovers and that his legacy lives on.

He thanked all those that work with the club on a volunteer basis.