HART’ TO KNOW WHICH WAY THIS WILL ‘GO
SLIGO Rovers’ hopes of completing the signing of RB Leipzig’s Fabrice Hartmann hangs in the balance.
The Bit O’ Red announced a 12-month loan deal for the 21-year-old winger last Wednesday week.
But an issue arose over his registration with the FAI prior to last Friday’s deadline for signing players during the
July transfer window.
And the FAI last night confirmed that Hartmann
“has not been registered on FAINet”.
Loan
Sligo did complete the signing of Robbie Burton on loan from Dinamo Zagreb for the rest of the season.
The former Arsenal academy star made his debut from the bench in last Sunday’s 2-1 FAI Cup defeat to Wexford and was an unused sub in Thursday’s 5-1 Europa Conference League defeat away to Viking Stavanger.
Should Sligo be unable to complete Hartmann’s transfer now, they will have to wait until January to bring him to the Showgrounds.
This would leave Sligo boss John Russell down a player as he seeks to guide the team back into Europe via a top-three Premier Division finish, although a top four placing would suffice if the FAI Cup winners are amongst the leading three in the table.
Clash
This continues with tomorrow’s home clash with Bohemians (4.45) although Sligo look set to be without centre-back Garry Buckley and midfielder Adam Buckley.
Buckley was taken from the pitch by stretcher in the first half in Norway with what appeared to be a nasty knee injury.
McDonnell’s problem looked like a hamstring issue which forced him out less than 10 minutes into the match.
While Sligo are set to exit their most successful ever campaign in Europe, they will still earn €850,000 in UEFA prize money.