Latest Rovers’ signings
THERE’S been no break for Sligo Rovers boss Liam Buckley, who has been busy signing players just one week after their season came to an end with a FAI Cup semi-final defeat to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
Rovers have announced in the last few days that the trio of Lewis Banks, Ryan De Vries and Garry Buckley will all be staying with the Bit O’Red for the 2021 season.
On Monday, Rovers announced that Buckley has signed a new contract/
The 27-year-old joined the Bit O’ Red this year and ended up as a first-choice centre-half, forming a pairing with John Mahon.
Buckley impressed throughout the year and said he is staying at The Showgrounds with a target to win trophies and make qualifying for Europe a regular occurrence.
“I saw the potential in the club when I joined and I think that potential is growing stronger. Getting to Europe this season was a bonus when you consider the start we had and our target was getting out of a tough position after the lockdown.
“There are top players at the club and the manager has targeted improving it even further.
“There is a core of a group that can go on to be among the best in the country. I know how good this group is, it’s the best I’ve been involved in for a while.
“I had spoken with the manager about going to centre-half one day, it was a position I felt I’d be comfortable in.
“I was injured in the first game back against Derry and that put me out for a month which was tough to take.
“But coming back I formed that partnership with John which I enjoyed and thought worked well. I get on well with John and I think we complement each other.
“I moved to Sligo for a new challenge and I’m delighted with how it has worked out so far.
“My girlfriend moved up here with me and she loves it too so I can have no complaints. We’re also a close group of players who live close to each other and get on well.
“Next season has to be one where we find a consistency over the course of the year. We need to get the form we had after the season resumed and do it over the season.
“I’m here to win trophies, play in Europe and achieve things. I know the potential and we have to capitalise on it.
“It won’t be easy in this league, every other club is looking to do the same. Talent wise we have the
basis to do it.”
Liam Buckley said: “Garry has had a good first season here.
“He has shown what a good a defender he is and that he can play either position to a high standard. The partnership with John Mahon worked well for us. I do feel next season that partnership can develop even more.
“Garry is a very accomplished footballer and with the style of play we are trying to develop here, he will be an important player for us from that end.
“He brings that experience of winning big matches and trophies and I know he’s determined to achieve more.
“That is what we want here. It’s another great addition for our group, we’re very happy he’ll be with us for next season.”
On Saturday, it was announced that New Zealand international De Vries will be staying with the Bit O’Red for another year after he was a vital player for Rovers over the 2020 campaign.
He played 17 games out of 21 overall, having only signed three games into the season, and scored against Dundalk and Finn Harps.
“I’m delighted to have signed back with Rovers, we’ve done well over the year and obviously the league finish was good.
“I’ve enjoyed my time here so signing back was something I wanted to do.
“It’s a different country and I had to settle in. With the pandemic I was only here for less than two weeks and then had to make that 38-hour trip a couple of times!
“It’s hard being away from home and my wife and child and she is due our second next year. Football kept me going and the two lads (housemates Lewis Banks and Darragh Noone) kept me company and made it easier.
“I think we made it easier for each other and the group and people around the club are very good.
“I had a knee injury late in the season which meant I missed some minutes or had to play through but that will recover now and my aim is to come back next year and start firing.
“I’m definitely excited for Europe.
“To come from the bottom to finish where we did was a good achievement and the FAI Cup run was unbelievable because I could see what it means to do well in the Cup here.
“Losing the semi-final gives us something to Improve on and look forward to next year to try to get to a final.
“If we could do that I can imagine what it would be like for the fans and people around the club. Europe will be a great experience and we have to target winning games in that.
“I’m excited to be part of next chapter here.
“We have to be competitive in the league and give the fans here something to shout about when they do come back, I want to be here for that and improve on what’s been started.
“The environment around the club is something I like being part of so 2021 is one to look forward to.”
Liam Buckley said: “Ryan is technically excellent and has shown he’s a very good footballer. He can play in three or four positions and he’s made a valuable contribution to our year.
“I’m delighted to have him with us.
“I think a second season will see Ryan get better as he will be more experienced in the league and settled.
“It was tough for Ryan being away from his family and we valued him commitment as we do for all our players in the squad.
“We’ve made good progress this week, we still have more to do and we are making changes to the squad as happens every year.
“We’ve got more to do as the budget becomes clearer, and I think we can be pleased so far.”
Later last week it emerged that Banks signed a new deal, to stay with the club for a third consecutive year.
The 23-year-old will enter a third season with the Bit O’ Red, having won the club’s Player of the Year in 2019 and helped Rovers to fourth place in the league this year, the club’s highest since 2013.
Banks’ season was hindered by a persistent injury at the start of the season but he ended up missing just six games overall in the campaign.
“I’m over the moon to get it across the line. We can look forward to 2021. My first year went well and it was a very long period out.
“I didn’t come back fit enough to play at the start of the season. I was always playing catch-up then later in the season and some of the games didn’t go as well as I’d like.
“But I felt towards the end of the season I got some form back. The season came to an end just as I felt I was getting back to form but there is that positive to take into next year now.
“The pandemic came while I was injured. It was obviously hard for everyone.
“The break did work well for us in relation to getting players back and get myself near to where I played games. When I came back to Ireland I had to quarantine so the pre-season was just a week or so.
“I missed the Derry and Shels
games and then I played 30 minutes and gradually got back into it.
“There is a small part that wishes it wasn’t over, but it was a long season.
£Hopefully I can take my form now into next season and kick on with the team. ”
Rovers did turn around their season following the restart, reaching the FAI Cup semi-final and winning eight of the 14 league games remaining.
“When something like it happens it can bring you together, and especially the way we were almost written off as we came back in July. That may have spurred us on. We came back stronger and finished the season well.
“Our approach was just take on each game.
“We were rock bottom with no points. Europe wasn’t mentioned, but we knew if we put a run together it would put us close to the top half.”
The final day of the season was the defeat to Shamrock Rovers, a game in which Banks stood out as one of the top performers for Liam Buckley’s side on the day.
It was a second loss at the semi-final stages for Banks, so while Europe is on the horizon, there is an incentive to get better.
“We’d much rather have won the game and still be in Ireland, preparing for Sunday’s FAI Cup final, but it wasn’t meant to be. To get Europe and finish on a high, it does motivate you when you think we’ve lost two semi-finals now in the last two seasons.
“That heartbreak and hurt can motivate us to go one or two better.
“We might have paid them a bit too much respect in the first 20 minutes and sat off them a bit. We certainly showed at the end of the first half and in the second half that we can compete with the top teams.
“Europe was mentioned when I first signed. I’m really excited and so are my friends and my family.
“They are looking forward to a European trip and not just one I hope.
“It’s something to look forward to because you’ll back on your career think I did play in some country that you wouldn’t normally play in. It’s a thing to look forward to.
“You have to try to improve season on season. If we don’t improve teams will improve and catch us up. “That’s the challenge for us as players and the whole club, not just settle for fourth.” Banks was one of the players from outside of Ireland who was not able to return home since coming back to Sligo in July. “It was tough at times, but there was obviously a few of us who were the same. I was living with Darragh Noone and Ryan DeVries. Ryan was in a similar situation with his family back home in New Zealand. “Luckily with technology you could FaceTime and whatnot which meant it wasn’t too bad.” Manager Liam Buckley said: “Lewis is another important part of the squad. He was our player of the year in 2019.
“The injury hampered him a bit this season, and particularly with the disrupted calendar, so when we get a complete pre-season into him next year, I feel we’ll see the very best of him again.
“He was still able to make an important contribution this season. I have no doubt he can be a big player for us in 2021.
“We’re delighted to have him on the board.”
Under contract at Sligo Rovers for 2021 so far: Ed McGinty, Luke McNicholas, Lewis Banks, Garry Buckley, John Mahon, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Ryan De Vries, Mark Byrne.
Meanwhile, midfielder Will Seymore (pictured left) confirmed on social media that he will not be returning to the club for the new season.
Seymore said: “Had a great 2020 finishing top 4 and securing Europe, hugely enjoyed my time in Sligo, had hoped to stay but wishing the best to my teammates, club and the fans going forward.”
Teemu Penninkangas also appeared to suggest he will not be returning as he posted on social media.
The defender said: “A different and special year in Ireland has now come to an end.
“I’m so blessed and grateful for the time I spent here living my dream.
“I’ve had the opportunity to meet many amazing people and the kindness of the Irish and their desire to help still surprises me.
“I have also had time to explore all around this beautiful country. The beauty of nature is absolutely amazing, and for example watching a sunset from the top of Knocknarea is something I will never forget.
“This country and people here impressed me so much, that I will definitely come back one day either for football or just as a tourist. “Until next time Ireland.” Striker Ronan Coughlan has been linked with Dundalk in the weeks before the season ended but Rovers fans will be keen to see the Limerick man stay on alongside Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe who didn’t rule out a return following the cup semi-final defeat.
Former player Gary Boylan has joined Galway United after being close to a Rovers return mid-way through the 2020 season.
The FAI are yet to confirm plans for 2021, but one possibility is that the season will not start until April, with the league consisting of three rounds of fixtures rather than the standard four rounds of fixtures.