Owen Heary to Sligo

**KeepersBall** · 23/10/2014, 9:47 PM

Done deal

**sligoman** · 23/10/2014, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by KeepersBall

Done deal

You forgot the link

**JC_GUFC** · 24/10/2014, 7:38 AM

Originally Posted by KeepersBall

Done deal

Did you drive him up to Sligo to sign on the dotted line?

**Mr A** · 24/10/2014, 8:21 AM

Were Roddy and Mick Cooke in the car just in case?

**BonnieShels** · 26/10/2014, 8:21 PM

Just heard on RTÉ News at 9

Originally Posted by RTÉ

Owen Heary confirmed as Sligo manager
Owen Heary has been confirmed as the new manager of Sligo Rovers.
Heary takes over at the Showgrounds following a year and a half in charge of Bohemians.
The 38-year-old replaces Gavin Dykes, who was caretaker manager, and has signed a two-year contract.
Heary said: “I am very pleased to become manager of Sligo Rovers. I am looking forward to taking on the job. It’s going to be a tough job but it’s a challenge and that’s what I want.
“I will be looking to hit the ground running. I want to see the club improve on this year’s finish and get back up near the top of the table because that is where I want to be.
“My ambition for the club is to win trophies, qualify for European competition and challenge for league titles.
“As a person my ambition is to be challenging for the league year in, year out and Sligo Rovers gives me the opportunity to do that. They won the league a couple of years ago but I want to be doing that on a regular basis.”
Heary was appointed caretaker Bohemians manager in July 2013 when they were bottom of the table and guided them to safety with a 10th place finish. This season they finished seventh in the league.
A Sligo statement read: “The club would like to thank Gavin Dykes and Ciaran Kelly for their hard work, dedication and professionalism while taking interim charge of the team over recent weeks.”
And chairman Joe Burns added: “On behalf of Sligo Rovers I am delighted to welcome Owen to the Showgrounds and to be part of the Bit o’Red.
“Over the years we have all seen Owen play against us with a passion and determination which made him one of the outstanding full-backs in the league.
"In speaking to Owen over the last couple of weeks I have no doubt that he will bring these same qualities to our club in his role as manager.”

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish...sligo-manager/

**disgruntled** · 27/10/2014, 10:42 AM

Good luck to him.
Its good to see an Irish lad get the job rather than someone using the position as a stepping stone to getting back to the UK.

**Fivesilver** · 27/10/2014, 1:31 PM

I wouldn't care if a manager was trying to get to the moon as long as he knew he needed success to get there. And I wouldn't say too many fans in the league wouldn't choose trophies over a shop-local scheme.

Every trophy won in our modern history has been under a manager from outside trying to get back (you could quibble, perhaps, over '83). And that has benefited us at grassroots level - the fine facilities the club has now have been built on the back of those successes.

I hope Heary turns out to be a genius and wins us everything going - but his nationality doesn't cost me a thought.

**punkrocket** · 28/10/2014, 12:36 PM

I think I like this thread better than the other one.

**Mr A** · 28/10/2014, 1:28 PM

What other thread?

**Louth4sam** · 28/10/2014, 1:29 PM

Great appointment for Sligo. Had Bohs well organised and playing a decent brand of football.

**avvenalaf** · 29/10/2014, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Louth4sam

Great appointment for Sligo. Had Bohs well organised and playing a decent brand of football.

Playing a decent brand of football is going to be a big thing for him as we are completely rebuilding a team and wouldn't expect to be winning anything for a few years (apart from our normal trophy a season, that is)

**outspoken** · 29/10/2014, 12:47 PM

He was under heavy heavy pressure at the start of the season with Bohs and they weren't expected to challenge for anything so he's about to walk into a whole new world of pressure at the Showgrounds which has seen trophy after trophy in the last few years, best of luck to the lad but I'm not so sure on this one.

**Nah Nah Nah Nah** · 29/10/2014, 5:28 PM

Nobody is expecting us to win anything next season

**Charlie Darwin** · 29/10/2014, 5:35 PM

Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

Nobody is expecting us to win anything next season

Well obviously since you don't have Roddy in charge.

**Redzer** · 30/10/2014, 9:35 AM

Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

Nobody is expecting us to win anything next season

Jazus, I'd at least expect a FEW wins in the league

**disgruntled** · 03/11/2014, 9:41 AM

Originally Posted by Fivesilver

I wouldn't care if a manager was trying to get to the moon as long as he knew he needed success to get there. And I wouldn't say too many fans in the league wouldn't choose trophies over a shop-local scheme.

Every trophy won in our modern history has been under a manager from outside trying to get back (you could quibble, perhaps, over '83). And that has benefited us at grassroots level - the fine facilities the club has now have been built on the back of those successes.

I hope Heary turns out to be a genius and wins us everything going - but his nationality doesn't cost me a thought.

Yes of course it doesn't matter where the manager comes from as long as they bring success.
But if you look back over the Champions list most of the managers have been Irish apart from Baraclough in 2012.
Its the same story in the FAI Cup competition.
Apart from Baraclough I think all the winners were managed by Irish managers unless you go back a bit in time.

**sligoman** · 03/11/2014, 5:01 PM

Originally Posted by disgruntled

Its the same story in the FAI Cup competition.
Apart from Baraclough I think all the winners were managed by Irish managers unless you go back a bit in time.

**disgruntled** · 10/11/2014, 5:57 PM

Originally Posted by sligoman

I forgot about Cooke.
Always liked him & he did well for Sligo.
His replacement Barraclough did well for them as well.
Sligo have had a string of UK managers over the years.
Unfortunately most of them used Sligo as stepping a ground for other things but that's always likely to happen when you bring someone over from the UK.
Strange why they went for a home grown manager now.

**redobit** · 11/11/2014, 1:57 PM

Originally Posted by disgruntled

I forgot about Cooke.
Always liked him & he did well for Sligo.
His replacement Barraclough did well for them as well.
Sligo have had a string of UK managers over the years.
Unfortunately most of them used Sligo as stepping a ground for other things but that's always likely to happen when you bring someone over from the UK.
Strange why they went for a home grown manager now.

Nothing strange about it really. He was the best candidate for the job I assume. If is was a UK guy, he'd have got the job. Granted we have had a lot of Uk managers down the years but that's cause we are willing to take a chance on a guy trying to make a name for himself.

**Fivesilver** · 12/11/2014, 8:55 AM

Heary's got off to a decent start with a few early signings - and nailing down Keane and Russell was huge. We definitely need a few more, though - we can't be asking too much of the youngsters. I said a while back that the next manager needed to get some positivity and excitement back into the fans and the players after the Coleman debacle - it'll be crucial in getting decent crowds out at the start of the season. Heary appears to be doing that so far - but we'll need a few good early results to keep it rolling. Poor results and falling crowds in our league have a nasty habit of feeding each other - the downward spiral is never far away.