SLIGO ROVERS MANAGER Liam Buckley hailed John Russell’s influence as the 34-year-old signed on for another season as player/assistant manager.
Russell returned for a third stint at the Showgrounds in 2019, combining his playing role with new duties as Buckley’s number two.
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The midfielder went on to make 10 appearances, and after seeing his fitness levels during pre-season, Buckley said it was “a no-brainer” to keep him involved in the playing squad.
“John has been very influential in the last 12 months and is a vital part of the staff,” Buckley said.
“He is hugely respected at the club and rightly so because of what he has achieved as a player, and now what he is bringing as an assistant manager on a daily basis.
“He understands the football club and challenges the players to become better every single day. He is a great sounding board to me, his knowledge and wealth of talent is invaluable so I’m delighted with this news.
“We also retain him as a player. At 34 I still think he has a lot to offer and we saw him step in last year and do well.
“If you could see him in pre-season now, he is as fit as you will get. It’s a no-brainer again to have him available to play.”