John Russell, the youngest top-flight manager in Ireland, prepares for Sligo Rovers' Premier Division season amidst a squad overhaul and financial constraints. Despite the challenges, Russell emphasizes the club's unique culture, fan-ownership, and ambitious goals.
David Sneyd JOHN RUSSELL IS not long through the gates at The Showgrounds on this bonus St Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday.He set off from home when it was still dark an hour ago, his wife and two young daughters asleep in their beds in Castlebar.No wonder Russell grabs an industrial sized tin of coffee from the top shelf in the press, a few generous spoonfuls dumped into white mugs.
Just like at the end of 2023, the Bit O’Red’s first-team squad was gutted over the winter. Russell was prepared for the overhaul. “You want players to come and do well and use it as a springboard. It’s a blessing and a curse when they do because they can go and double their money elsewhere in the league.”Russell’s budget is the same as last season and he reckons that means it will be the smallest in the division. New – and improved – contracts were offered to those he was able to keep.
More than €2 million has been raised since 2003 by the 500 Club, a supporters’ group that has outgrown its name given there are actually 723 members, with an estimated 80 full-time volunteers continually ensuring there is additional income raised. Similarly, another cabin just a few feet away where there is a club shop and other facilities, was liberated from a convent in Athlone.In November, it was announced that they would receive €16,400,000 from the Government’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund for the redevelopment of the Showgrounds.
In return, Sligo will play a Select XI as part of their pre-season plans. The 42 sits beside one of the baby seats in the back while new addition to the staff Jesse Acteson hops in the front beside Russell. So, Russell decided to use some of his budget on bringing Acteson to the club instead of another player.Goalkeeper Ed McGinty is one of several who left over the winter. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO
There is a painful moment for Mahon late on in the session when he keels over after an incident during 11-a-side shape work. Initial concerns subside when he trudges over to the blue brick wall around the pitch and bends over to compose himself.A ball smashed into the goolies is no worries at all for a man who has fractured his leg and ruptured his Achilles in two of his most recent pre-seasons.
Patton is six years Mahon’s junior and just signed his first professional deal over the winter. If he wasn’t good enough to make the leap from the academy he would be going to games with his friends every weekend instead. What started as a target of 200 members in 2003 has risen to 732. Some make their one-off payment of €240 for the year while most have set up standing orders of €20 per month.
The 500 Club is one element of a three-pronged fundraising attack, with estimates of at least 80 volunteers consistently out on the ground for the club.The Club Lotto is all year round and takes in €100,000. It happens every Monday night, books to be sold go back out on Tuesdays and they are all gathered again by the following Monday afternoon.
Often it still won’t be enough, additional fundraisers are a necessity while last year’s friendly matches with Celtic and Everton were both crucial to minimising the effects of back-to-back loss-making seasons. Oyster Island should be visible but isn’t. Coney Island is beyond it and Strandhill further out again.
There will be expertise in project management, finance and engineering on board to ensure the timeline can be met.
Sligo Rovers John Russell Premier Division Football Irish Football Squad Overhaul Fan Ownership Club Culture Ambitions
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