Keith Ward feels “everyone has taken to” new manager Owen Heary as Sligo Rovers prepare for their SSE Airtricity League season opener with Cork City on Saturday night in The Showgrounds.
Ward was one of the first signings made by Heary when he took over the Setanta Sports Cup holders just days after the end of last season.
The Bit O’ Red have a host of new names, including Estonian international Sander Puri and Danish striker Morten Nielsen, and are hoping to make a return to the European places in the league this year.
“It's a football-town. We were told that. There is no GAA, hurling or rugby around"
He told RTÉ Sport: “I played with Owen at Bohs when he was coming towards the end of his career. When he made the phone call to me to come to Sligo, I was delighted. It is nice to work with him again. Everyone has taken to him.
“The pre-season has gone very well. Owen expects us to work hard. We'll be a fit team. He encourages us to play which is nice for me as a midfielder. I think we'll have a lot to offer. We have a lot of talents around the team and competition for places.
“We scored 20 plus goals in pre-season and we haven't conceded many. The goals have been spread around. Dinny Corcoran and Morten Nielsen, our new strikers, have done very well and the midfielders are chipping in so it is good to see.
“Everyone seems to have settled in well. We are all living around each other. There is a good atmosphere around the place. It has been helped with how well pre-season has gone.”
The move west from the capital has also been enjoyable for the midfielder, saying there is a unique experience at a regional club.
“Moving up to Sligo has been nice,” he said.
“It's a bit of a change from Dublin but I've settled in well and I'm enjoying it.
“I spoke to a few lads that have played for Sligo before an they say around the town and that you get you treated very well.
“Sometimes after training we go for food together and it's paid for and I thought it was very nice and generous from the locals. It's little things like that. When we meet up for food after training we all just chill out and happy to stay around town. It's good.
“It's a football-town. We were told that. There is no GAA, hurling or rugby around. It's a big deal to be playing for them. I played for Dundalk last year and one thing I've noticed play for 'town' clubs is you are more recognised and you get well looked after.
“Over the years Sligo has had great support and hopefully they come out in the numbers again this year.”
