Sligo Rovers boss John Russell has signed a multi-year deal with the club having led the Bit O'Red to safety again last season.
Russell guided Rovers to a seventh placed finish last term after a superb second half of the season and secured a PFAI Manager of the Year nomination, with the club having one of the lowest budgets in the Premier Division.
He was appointed assistant to Liam Buckley at the club ahead of the 2019 season and took the helm at Sligo in mid-2022.
Russell said: "From the players and staff to the supporters, who are the lifeblood of the club, this is a place that means a great deal to me.
"I want to build on the foundations we've laid over the past few seasons as I believe we can achieve something special. My role is to keep pushing the players, supporting their development, and making sure they have the platform to show their quality. I’m excited to keep building with this squad and to see just how far we can go."
Sligo have 19 players signed ahead of the start of pre-season training next week.
Russell added: "It's probably the first time we’ve been in this position since I took over. We want to start the season strongly in 2026. To do that, you need the majority of your squad in place.
"The off-season is key for players to work on their conditioning and areas of improvement to prepare their bodies for the season ahead. Once pre-season starts, it’s all about developing our style of play, players understanding their roles and responsibilities, building up those connections on the pitch, and building their fitness levels so that we’re ready to start the season fast.
"The ambition for 2026 is to keep driving this club forward. We want to build on the momentum from the second half of last season and be more consistent across the campaign."
Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins said the new deal for the manager shows a desire for success: "This is another statement of intent from the club.
"In having John in charge, we have who we believe is the best young manager in the league leading our first team and shaping how the club will evolve over the next few years.
"We have who we believe is the most ambitious manager in the country leading our first team and that gives us the best chance.
"We're absolutely delighted that John has agreed this new multi-year deal and we’re really looking forward to 2026 and beyond."
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