Sligo Rovers sign Donegalmen Patton and Callan-McFadden

Sligo Rovers have announced two new additions to their squad for the 2017 season as Kyle Callan-McFadden and Shaun Patton have penned deals for the Bit O'Red.

Kyle Callan-McFadden is a former Ireland under-21 international defender who started his career with English Championship side Norwich City and has spent the last few months playing in the MLS with Orlando City.

The young Donegal man has made over 30 appearances for the Irish underage team from every level since he was eligible to play under-16 international football and has captained his country and a number of occasions.

Goalkeeper Patton played for Donegal team Finn Harps before moving to the Candystrips at the end of the 2014 season. He made just eight appearances for Derry over two seasons as he battled for the first team spot with regular keeper Ger Doherty.

Sligo mangaer Dave Robertson, speaking to the club's offical website, said he was delighted to make his first new signings of the off-season.

"[Shaun] is a fantastic signing to get done,” he said.

“Goalkeeper is an important area to have secured. Shaun becomes our first new signing and we are excited that he is.

“I think he will be a great signing. Shaun is full of potential and I think he can have a great career here with this club.”

“There is a great opportunity for him to come here and work with Micheal Schlingermann and Declan McIntyre, who he has worked with before.

“Declan knows him and he knows what he needs at this stage of his career in order to kick on. He will continue to get better working here.

“It is very important that we have a competitive environment here and he will bring that. He will always be pushing Micheal for the first team place.

“He will be in a position that if we need to call on him, and I am sure we may, he will be good to go.”

Robertson went on to say he had acquired a high quality defender in Donegalman Callan-McFadden.

“Kyle is an excellent defender first and foremost, that is the reason why we have signed him,” said the Englishman.

“I have seen him play and he is a defender with tenacity, a willingness to defend and good ability on the ball. He is also a very strong leader.

“He is someone I think can come in and do really well straight away. He has vast experience from his years with Norwich City where he captained the youth team.

“He has spent the last couple of years in Orlando gaining more experience. He is from Donegal and will be returning to live here with his wife and child.

“He will come here ready to hit the ground running. I am looking forward to working with him.

“He signs here with a very good pedigree. He has a maturity beyond his years. He will add to the squad and its dynamics.

“As a defender he has good pace so he can defend against the quicker players but is also strong and proven against all tops of forwards.”

Gary Boylan, Regan Donelon, Mick Leahy and Tobi Adebayo-Rowling have all been retained from last year’s defence and Robertson sees his squad as very strong in that area but is still looking for further additions:

“We have good strength in the defensive side. There’s already competition at centre-back with Kyle joining Gary Boylan and Mick Leahy and then we have Regan and Tobi in the full-back areas.

“There is good players in that defensive group but I would still like one more. I think that area can be a real strength for us and but it will be great if we can add more cover as it will be needed.

Robertson added; “I am hoping to sign another three altogether in the next couple of weeks. That will take us to 16 or 17 and then we will add another few final pieces in the January transfer window.”