Mick Leahy signs for Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers today announced the signing of defender Mick Leahy who has been on trial at the Bit O'Red for the past week.

Leahy has seven years’ experience in the SSE Airtricity League with U.C.D. and Limerick. Rovers Dave Robertson feels that he has added the right type of player in Leahy. Speaking to the club’s official website Robertson said, “He has been with us just under a week in training as well as playing on Saturday and he has really impressed both on and off the pitch.

“He comes with good experience of playing in the league and adds to the defence that we have got already. He is exactly the type of player we are looking for. Most importantly he has the ability to defend very well and also to play in the passing game that we want. He is the right type of player for us and really suits the style that our team will be looking to play with.

“He brings good experience to the defence. He has spent a good amount of time playing in the league and got the experience of European football with U.C.D. last year as well. He is one that comes with good leadership skills and is a good age at 26. He will slot right into what we are trying to do and what we hope to achieve in 2016.”

Leahy also spoke to the Rovers website about signing for the club; “I am really glad to get signed. This off-season has been the longest I’ve had to wait to get a contract. I had a couple of other offers but I was holding out to come here. I was hoping that I would have the chance to come and I am delighted that I have. It’s great to be able to get back to playing full-time football, I could have went part-time but this is what I want.

“I actually came down a couple of years ago when Ian Baraclough was manager to talk about signing but I decided to stay at U.C.D. so I could finish my final year of studies. So it’s good to have finally signed. I have really enjoyed the last few days here. Training has been really good and I got to see the set up and meet all the lads. The facilities here are the most professional in the country.

“Everything with the training pitch and the stadium all together and at the Clarion as well. Also getting to train in the day which not many teams do. I have been really impressed by it all and from meeting the lads too.

“It’s natural when you spend a few years at U.C.D. that you become one of the older lads there. For the majority of my time there that was the case so I am used to it and I do enjoy the leadership. The squad we have here is not as young as at U.C.D. though. There is some youth but some of the lads have experience from playing in the U.K. They might not have had a lot of playing time but they’ve been at a good level.

“Hopefully the team will play good football. The way I was brought up under Martin Russell was to play that way. He was big into the passing style of football and helped me improve that side of my game. I enjoy that way and it seems that is what Dave wants. I’ll be happy to continue playing that way as it’s what I most enjoy.”

Leahy takes the number of players currently at the Showgrounds to eighteen.