Sligo Rovers manager Liam Buckley on his task as the club’s new boss.
NEW SLIGO ROVERS BOSS ON HIS PLANS AS HE TAKES OVER AT THE SHOWGROUNDS
LIAM Buckley is confident he will have both Rhys McCabe and Mikey Drennan as part of his arsenal for his first season as Sligo Rovers manager. Both players’ contracts expired at the end of last season and with rival clubs said to be monitoring the situation, it looked like Rovers could have lost two of their most prized assets.
But Buckley remains hopeful that both players will sign new deals ahead of the new term.
“The club have an option in Rhys’ contract to keep him for next year which we are exercising”, he told the Sligo Champion.
“So as far as I’m concerned he’ll be here. We just need to tidy up a few things. He’s a talented footballer and I know what he can bring to the party.
“With Mikey, I want him to stay, I think he wants to stay and we’re trying to just tidy up a few things.” Supporters were surprised last week to discover both Patrick McClean and Mitchell Beeney were added to the PFAI’s end-of-year transfer list, despite being under contract for next season.
“We didn’t put them on it and they didn’t ask to go on it, so I’m not sure how that happened”, Buckley explained. “I think they’ve just simply ticked a box on a PFAI form without consideration.”
The new man is yet to meet with all of last year’s squad but did confirm that a number of players will not be retained.
Lewis Morrison was the first to be officially released by the club earlier this month. “There’s only so many players you can meet in one day”, he continued.
“There will be one or two new players coming in and one or two will leave.
“It’s a busy time for all managers. We’re each chasing the best players but hopefully we’ll have one or two in soon.”
This is the first time since he managed Athlone Town in the late 90s that Buckley will need to convince players to move to a club that isn’t in the capital.
But he’s adamant it’s as tough to bring a player to Sligo, than it is to one on the east coast.
Either way, he will expecting only maximum effort from whoever is plying their trade at the Showgrounds come February.
“It’s not easy, even in Dublin”, he stated.
“In Sligo, we’ve lovely scenery but the reason we are here is football. If players are coming here, they need to understand they must try their absolute hardest.
“There are clubs with bigger budgets in this league, but they can still only play eleven. So the eleven we get, we must ensure they’re organised but I do believe we will have a decent team.”
The 58-year-old is also yet to finalise his backroom team.
Dave Campbell has already joined as an opposition analyst/scout, with more to be added.
Buckley confirmed he will be speaking to former player Sean Flannery about a return to the club as a fitness coach.
“It’ll be close to what was here last year, but we have to be conscious of the budget too. I’d be looking to bring in an assistant coach, along with a goalkeeping coach and we need to look at the strength and conditioning side of things.
“The immediate concern for me is the players.
“They’re in their off-season now and now is the best opportunity for them to strengthen.
“Nowadays, footballers need to look like footballers. Look at the Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Pat’s players. They look physically intimidating and we need that up here, particularly for our younger lads.”
In terms of recruitment, Buckley confirmed he has spoken to a number of players about a move to the Showgrounds but that talks were merely preliminary.
He confirmed that none of the players he is speaking to played under him at the Saints last season.
It won’t affect the pre-season budget, but Buckley says supporters can play their part should the squad require strengthening come the summer months.
“There are a few players out there who would help us.
“It’s just about trying to convince them that they can be part of our success. It’s a chicken and egg situation in a way.
“Do we have to get the team playing great stuff every fortnight and get the fans coming back? Or can we get the fans to come in numbers and give us that bit of extra finance to go out and sign players?”.
Buckley has also, as expected, called on fans to level their expectations for the early months of his reign. But the Dubliner is driven to provide Sligo with a team and style of play worthy of the club. He has also urged supporters to row in behind the club in 2019.
“I have no doubt there’ll be expectations. I want the Showgrounds to be a place where clubs come up and think ‘this is a nightmare coming to play here’,
“But I would be hoping supporters give us a little bit of time to develop our style of play and get that confidence into the group.
“I can guarantee each player will be bursting their proverbials to get us where we want to be.
“But I would like us all to muck in. So if Liam Kerrigan falls over in front of goal, the crowd gets behind him and we move on. That support can also make it tough for the opponent.”