New recruit JR wants to make a difference
THE fate of several SSE Airtricity League of Ireland players will remain mysteries for some weeks and perhaps even months to come until the start of the new 2024 season.
One such mystery that has quickly been solved is ‘Who Signed JR?’
The answer to this question – revealed on Monday afternoon of this week – was Sligo Rovers as John Ross Wilson agreed on a deal to join the Bit O’Red for next season. Dublin native Wilson, known widely as JR, arrives after three seasons in his second stint at Shelbourne.
The right-back, who will take up the role vacated by Johan Brannefalk, has amassed a total of 135 appearances in his career which also included spells at Bohemians and Bray Wanderers.
The Ringsend native says he is excited for the next chapter of his life in the north-west of Ireland. Speaking after completing his move on Monday, he said: “I was looking for a new challenge. I had been at Shelbourne for four years and felt it was time to step out of my comfort zone, experience something new.
“The manager [John Russell] had been on to me about what he wants to build here, it is a massive club that wants to get back up the table and I’ll be raring to go to do my bit from day one of pre-season. He continued:
“You need a good solid defence and that is something I want to bring to the club. “I learned a lot over the years from other players and I want to bring all that to the club in building something new with a strong defensive structure.”
Commenting on playing under Damien Duff at Tolka Park and how he may compare to his new manager, Wilson says that while Duff may be more animated than Russell, there is no denying they have a similar passion for the game and how they want their teams to play. “Damien is an unbelievable coach and a great guy off the pitch, he was brilliant to me as were all the coaching team. I had met the gaffer [John Russell] a few times before signing and it was clear to me his passion is no different than Damien’s, he wants to build a different culture than what he had this season, he wants more players who reflect his own passion for the game.”
Wilson likes to roam upfield like all modern full-backs, but he equally enjoys some old school defensive work and for him, this is the true cornerstone of his game and what he can bring to a new look defensive structure at Rovers. “Tackling is probably what I am known for. I like to get forward but I actually love defending, you can’t beat the feeling of keeping the ball out of the back of the net.
“As I said before, I know the manager is trying to change the culture of the team and that means a good balance to the team and I want to be able to say I’m contributing at both ends of the pitch.”
Wilson turns 25-years-old next month as he enters a pivotal stage of his career.
He is relishing the opportunity to be recognised for his potential as a leader in the dressing-room and hopes he can be a driving force in this squad as they aim to look up the table rather than down in 2024. He added: “It is good to have so many appearances under my belt at this stage of my career. The idea of being a leader in this team isn’t something that would daunt me. “I will be 25 when the season starts, I want to be recognised as a strong, dependable presence in the team and also be someone who can help out the younger players in the team.”