Russell enthused
added: “I think I can bring a lot to the team but defensively and on the ball.
“I’m composed in playing out from the back and also being aggressive and ready to shut teams down.
“I know the league has a slightly similar set-up to what I experienced in the Scottish league [with Dundee United] so I feel I am arriving in a league with a bit of familiarity as well.”
The signings of Wiggett and Denham brings to 18 the total number of senior men’s first team players under contract at The Showgrounds for the 2024 season. This group of 18 includes two goalkeepers.
Galway United
Castlebar.
This was the second time the sides met this pre-season – Rovers previously beat their Connacht rivals 1-0 courtesy of a Wilson Waweru goal on January 27.
Rovers made a swift start to this second meeting when Niall Morahan met a Fabrice Hartmann free-kick to head the ball into the bottom corner.
Galway responded well in the secondhalf and deservedly equalised when exBit O’Red defender Garry Buckley found the back of the net for the Tribesmen. It ended 1-1.
Rovers’ final pre-season game sees them take on Finn Harps in Finn Park, Ballybofey, this Saturday (3pm).
Solar
Park
SLIGO Rovers have boosted their senior women’s team with the signing of Donegal native Zoe McGlynn. The midfielder, 25, who hails from Raphoe, is a former Republic of Ireland underage international.
She previously played for Tyrone’s Sion Swifts in the NIFL Women’s Premiership and one of her teammates there, Kelly Crompton, will be one of her colleagues at The Showgrounds. Crompton, also a midfielder, signed for the Bit O’Red last December.
McGlynn has experience of playing in America – she was with Central Connecticut State University in the NCAA top tier and excelled in the Northeast Conference.
SLIGO Rovers senior men’s team manager John Russell is hopeful of adding two further signings to the first team squad before the start of the new season on Friday week, February 16. While the budget available is considerably tighter than last year, the manager remains confident that he can get at least two more deals done to complete his group for the start of the 2024 campaign.
Speaking last Friday, he said: “I am still pushing with the club to finalise the squad. We needed defenders and we have got the two lads in [Charlie Wiggett and Ollie Denham].
“There’s maybe two more
SIGNED FOR 2024
ROVERS SENIOR WOMEN’S SQUAD: Caoimhe O’Reilly (gk), Amber Hardy
(gk), Yvonne Hedigan, Leah Kelly,
Emma Hansberry, Sarah Kiernan, Kelly Crompton, Amy Roddy, Kerri O’Hara, Muireann Devaney, Kelsey Munroe, Alice Lillie, Keeva Flynn, Ciara Henry, Zoe McGlynn
So far she’s one of five new signings for the upcoming campaign along with a host of re-signings.
McGlynn revealed that she had been approached by Rovers to sign last season but she opted to remain at Sion Swifts. But when the opportunity came again she agreed to the move.
McGlynn stated: “I had a few other offers but decided that going to Sligo was the right move for me – I like the ideas and plans that [Rovers manager] Tommy Hewitt has for the team.
“I’m excited for the challenge signings I would like to get in. We are very tight on finances but we want to do well this year and we need strength in depth.
“If I can’t get those last couple of players in I am confident in the ability of some of our young academy players to step up and take their chance when it comes.”
It is understood that Dutch striker Rein Smit remains on trial with the Bit O’Red and it is hoped a deal will be reached in the coming days. Grange native Seamas Keogh and Mark Byrne, who hails from Kilkelly, Co. Mayo, both former Rovers players, are also still training with the first team – but as of yet neither have signed contracts for the new season. Speaking about
The number of new faces in the Rovers senior men’s squad for the 2024 campaign.