Having some fans back will boost players, says Buckley
Premier Division leaders Sligo Rovers resume their campaign this Saturday at The Showgrounds and the noise of 100 home supporters will accompany them
SLIGO Rovers weren’t on the beach during their week off – although the weather was favourable for a deserved jolly at coastal jewels such as Enniscrone, Dunmoran, Rosses Point, Strandhill or Streedagh – but manager Liam Buckley is keen to ensure his players aren’t still mentally on holiday when the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division resumes this weekend. The Bit O’Red, who lead the standings after 14 games, having gone into the mid-season break in top spot, a point clear of champions Shamrock Rovers, can ill-afford to be switched off when Drogheda United – this season’s Premier Division dark horses for a top four spot – come to town on Saturday night (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm). The Louth side have returned to the top flight in style with six wins and four draws from 14 games, while also boasting the best goal difference in the division.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s home game, Buckley spoke highly of Rovers’ next opponents who are managed by Tim Clancy, an ex-Rovers defender. “Drogheda are obviously having a good season. They have a good team and signed very well over the off-season with players like Dane Massey, they are equipped to do very well [this year] and I have no doubt it will be a tight game.”
“There isn’t a lot between a number of the teams in the Premier Division.” “We expect a tough match but we have worked hard to be where we are and we intend to stay there. We need everyone to turn up and be very focused from
the start,” Buckley stressed.
Some good news arrived for Buckley this week as the FAI confirmed that forward Romeo Parkes will be suspended for just one game.
Parkes, 30, was shown a straight red card in Rovers’ 2-1 win away to Finn Harps on May 28 following an altercation with Harps defender Kosovar Sadiki.
While Buckley can do without avoidable absences in his team, he is pleased that common sense prevailed and that Parkes will not miss more games than the incident warranted.
“I am pleased for Romeo. It was a ‘nothing’ incident so it would have been a disaster for him if it was a twogame ban or a three-game ban.”
“The right call was made so I am pleased for him.”
In addition to the team reshuffle necessary because of the Jamaican forward being absent, star centre-back Garry Buckley is also a doubt for Saturday’s game due to injury.
But David Cawley and Danny Kane – options for midfield and defence respectively – are fit again and in contention to be in the matchday squad.
Parkes, who has netted four goals this season, will have to make do with sitting in the stand on Saturday, but he will be far from alone as the club welcomes back spectators for the first time this year.
One hundred match pack holders (an alternative to the traditional season ticket) were selected at random to attend The Showgrounds this weekend.
Buckley is thrilled to be welcoming back the life and soul of the club at a pivotal time in the season when Rovers have just established themselves as Premier Division leaders.
“It is great to finally be at the start of welcoming fans back and hopefully in a few weeks we will have 200 at games.”
“We are top of the table but we miss having fans in the ground in a position like this.”
“I have no doubt the hundred who are there will be heard and that is going to be a lift for the lads out on the pitch.”