Defender Gary Boylan turns down European football to sign new Sligo Rovers deal

Sligo Rovers have announced that defender Gary Boylan has re-signed for the Bit o’ Red for the 2018 season.

Boylan has been an integral part of the team since he was promoted form the U-19 side back in 2014.

The 21-year-old's versatility has seen him play in many positions across the back line and midfield for the Bit O’Red over the past three years.

Boylan will hope he will get to play more in his favoured position of right-back after last seasons preferred right back Tobi Adebayor-Rowling made the switch to Cork City in the off-season.

“I’m delighted to sign back,” Boylan told the club's official website upon the announcement.

“The past couple of years have not been what we wanted but there is ambition next season to do bigger and better things. We want to challenge in the top half and further up.

“We have kept many of the players from last year. We had a really good finish to the season which proved how good the squad was for the latter part of the season.

“We’ve kept the players that helped us stay up and hopefully we can bring in more now to improve the squad further.

“I had interest from a club playing in Europe next year and when a club doing that comes in for you, you will think about.

“I just think next year at Sligo will be a big year. There are big things going to happen I feel. Gerard has big ambitions for the club and that was a massive attraction for me.”

Manager Gerard Lyttle added: “Gary's talent is there for all to see. We want him to become a regular in a position next season.

“There was interest in him for one or two clubs and we've shown what we want to do because he's one of our own and we don't want to lose the players we've brought through. It's the ambition here to do that and keep the players here regardless of what other clubs do.

“We want Gary to be more consistent next year. His downfall is that he has too many positions. I could list them all day and he's a manager's dream in that sense.

“We see him a central midfielder or right-back. He can play holding or as a box-to-box number eight.

“With Tobi leaving, it will also create an opportunity for Gary at right-back. I had a long conversation with him and he wants to settle in one position.

“He's the type of player that will play goal in goals if I asked him. He feels he can play that number eight role and there is that opportunity at right-back now too.

“He needs to work a bit more on some aspects of right-back and he will.

“We're delighted to have him on board. I want him to be able to reflect on next season as his most consistent at the club and if he can do that he will be a really influential player for us.”