New Sligo Rovers boss Dave Robertson says he plans to get the Bit O’Red playing “high-tempo, attacking” football and entice the fans back to the Showgrounds.
Sligo, Premier Division champions in 2012 and FAI Cup winners in 2010, 2011 and 2013, avoided relegation last season under care-taker boss Micky Adams, and have slipped down the pecking order significantly since the cup win two years ago.
Former Peterborough United boss Robertson said: “My ambition, first and foremost, is to be successful here for the club.
“To develop it, it get it back to the glory days that it experienced. We know if we bring that here, the crowd will get behind us.
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to bring a style of play that’s exciting, high-tempo, attacking. I think if we do that here at the Showgrounds then the fans will come and enjoy the football."
The ex-Royal Marine, who served tours in Belfast, Kuwait and as well Arctic warfare training in Norway and jungle training in Guyana, told the media at a press conference in Sligo that he would spend the next couple of days sussing out which players he wants to deal with for the 2016 campaign.
“I’m a very proud Englishman with an Irish heritage"
“For me, I want players who are committed, who are hungry, who are full of passion and desire, who want to play for this football club,” he said.
“From there on we’ll be looking to recruit in the areas we need to strengthen to be ready for the 2016 campaign.
“This is a re-building job. I’ve spoken to the board on how we can do that together.
“The first stage is to recruit a squad that is really able to compete next season.”
Robertson also revealed that he has many connections to Ireland.
He said: “I’m a very proud Englishman with an Irish heritage. My nan and my mum come from County Wicklow.
"My wife comes from Navan in County Meath. I told her one day, if the right opportunity came along, that I would bring her back.”
