Liam Martin to stick with Sligo Rovers in 2017

Sligo Rovers have announced they have retained the services of forward Liam Martin for the 2017 season.

Martin will remain at the club for a further year and will be hoping he can build on his form from last season where he hardly missed a minute of league football for the Bit O'Red, amassing 33 appearances and 4 goals in his second period at the club.

The 22-year-old is a product of the club's youth system and moved north to join Ballinamallard in 2014 staying for 2 seasons before Dave Robertson brought him back to the Showgrounds for the 2016 season.

The Donegal man was nominated last season for Player of the Year alongside Micheal Schlingermann, Jimmy Keohane and eventual winner Raff Cretaro.

Martins re-signing has brought the number of players at the club for 2017 to 16.

Speaking to the clubs official website manager Robertson gave his reaction to retaining Martin in his squad.

“I am really delighted to have signed Liam today,” said the Englishman.

“He was a big part of our team last year. Having been with the club previously and went away to experience senior football at Ballinamallard he came back and did really well"

“He is a player that still has more development potential in him. I think that he is capable of adding more goals to his game and that is something that he will keep working at. If he does that he will be a real asset here at this club.”

“He did surpass the expectations a lot of people had for him but I knew what he was capable of.

“Having worked with him I could see that his work ethic was second to none. He is a player that strives to improve every day and is a real unselfish team-player.

“His work-rate is a real example to all of the team. We need that blend of ingredients in the side. Liam goes out and wears his heart on his sleeve every time he steps on the pitch.

“We also have the quality players that you need to open teams up, we have those in abundance. But adding the energy and work rate of Liam is what we need.

“There is no-one more willing to work hard for the team than Liam.”