Heary denies stepping down as Sligo Rovers manager

In the latest twist in the Sligo Rovers-Owen Heary saga, the Bit O'Red released a statement on Friday evening officially confirming that the Dubliner had “stepped down” as manager – only for Heary to refute that live on Setanta Sports by responding: “I never stepped down. They sacked me.”

 

The 38 year old last took charge of Sligo in the 5-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium on June 5th. Throughout the week following that game, speculation surfaced that Heary had been removed from the Showgrounds hotseat and then later reinstated, with the club neither confirming nor denying the rumours.

 

Coaches Gavin Dykes and Joseph N'do took charge of the Bit O'Red for their next match, the 2-1 home defeat to Dundalk on June 12th. No official update on the situation came from either Sligo or Heary during the mid-season break which followed.

 

However, with the SSE Airtricty League returning to action on June 26th following its brief intermission, Heary appeared as a pundit on Setanta Sports' coverage of the Premier Division clash between St. Patrick's Athletic and Longford Town. When asked by presenter Des Curran where things stood between himself and the club at this point, Heary told Setanta Sports:

 

“What happened was, after the Shamrock Rovers game, on the Sunday I got a phone call from the [Sligo] chairman [Joe Burns] to say that I was no longer needed at the club, which was grand. And the following day the players were told I wasn't there and I got asked to put back the keys.

 



“And then on the Tuesday, I got a phone call to say I was reinstated. So it's a bit in limbo at the moment but hopefully it will be sorted out soon.”

 

Heary went on to add: “No, there's not [a whole lot I can do], but I'll go out tomorrow and I'll support the club. I'll be out there watching Bray [Wanderers] and I'm sure that they'll beat Bray and move up the table which I'd expect over the next couple of weeks, that they'll get a couple of wins and progress.”

 

 



However, shortly before kick-off in the game at Richmond Park, Sligo released a statement – their first official comment on the matter – which reads:

 

“Sligo Rovers F.C. reluctantly wish to confirm that Owen Heary has stepped down as First Team Manager and departed the club. We would like to thank Owen for his services to the club and wish him all the best for what will without doubt be a successful managerial career.

 

“While Sligo Rovers F.C appreciate there was much speculation in recent weeks, the club had been advised not to issue a statement or to place information concerning the issue in the public domain.

 

“Sligo Rovers F.C would like to thank its members, supporters and sponsors for their patience and understanding throughout this process.”

During the half-time interval of the Pat's-Longford game, Curran asked Heary for his reaction to this latest development and the former Bohemians manager denied stepping down of his own volition.

 

“Well it's the first I've seen the statement, but I never stepped down as manager,” Heary told Setanta Sports. “I don't know where this statement came from – well, obviously from the club. But no, I never stepped down as manager. They sacked me a couple of weeks ago. And then there was ongoing discussions, but I can say now that I never stepped down.”

 

 

The Bit O'Red's first league game back after the break is against Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds, and despite the attempts from both parties to clarify the situation, players and fans of the club will travel to Wicklow on Saturday none the wiser about what the next twist in this story will be.

 

    About Fran Reilly

    Fran Reilly joined Extratime.ie in February 2015 having previously written for the Drogheda/Fingal Independents, loi19.com and the Cork City matchday programme. Though only part of the ET family for a relatively short time, the Donaghmede … View Full Profile