SLIGO Rovers will have another five new faces taking to the pitch when the squad returns to training on Saturday, January 21. Rovers boss Sean Connor has confirmed that five trialists will join new signings Chris Turner and Keith Foy, as well as most of last year’s panel, when the team report back for duty.
And Connor expects one or two more new players to be added to his Premier Division squad as they prepare for pre-season.
Among the five, who will join Rovers for pre-season training with a view to a longer stay, will be goalkeeper Charlie Tracey, who is also being tracked by Dublin City. Also coming to The Showgrounds are three U-21 players that have been released by English clubs – two Irish players and one Scot.
Connor said: “We are working under a tight budget so I am trying to bring in young players with a lot of potential, who have a point to prove. Football is a young man’s game and technically I feel these young men are up to the task.”
Elsewhere, Connor has confirmed that Northern Ireland U-19 captain Turner, Fahrudin Kudozovic and Paul Brown remain committed to Rovers despite being linked with other clubs.
Connor said: “I don’t know where these rumours come from but it certainly wasn’t the players themselves. Chris [Turner] was in Sligo last week and a lot of people don’t realise this but he trained with us for the last week of last season so he is ready to go.
“I know that Linfield and Portadown were interested in Chris, while Faz [Kudozovic] was attracting interest from Premier Division clubs but both lads are committed to us.
“Paul [Brown] has a two-year contract with us and we have had no approach for him so he remains very much a Sligo Rovers player.
“In a way it is good that these players are being heavily pursued because it shows that we are attracting quality players.
“This is why I am trying to keep my targets quiet and not tip-off other clubs. Some fans may feel there has been a lack of transfer activity but they need to trust me,” he stated.
“The squad is coming together nicely and I won’t be signing players just for the sake of signing them. We will have a competitive squad by the time March 10 comes around.”
Meanwhile, Rovers have been boosted by the news that Tubbercurry full-back, and fans’ favourite, Rafael Cretaro has signed a new one-year deal with the club, ending speculation about his immediate future.
Businesses are asked for their support
Sligo Rovers manager Sean Connor has appealed to Sligo businesses to back Sligo Rovers on their return to the top-flight.
Connor said: “I would encourage the business community to get behind the team in any way they can – whether its is with e500 or e5,000, it will all help towards keeping the players at the club and keeping the team where it belongs.
“For any businesses that haven’t been contacted by us, I encourage them to get in touch with either myself, members of the finance committee or anyone at the club.
“We hope to get to the stage were we have 14 full-time players at the club but this takes money and we are going to need a lot financial backing to keep the club going forward.”
