Waterford have appointed Graham Coughlan as their new first-team head coach on a contract for the rest of the current Premier Division season.
Coughlan, a Dublin native, had a 19-year playing career, before moving into management in 2018 at Bristol Rovers.
The 51-year-old had spells in charge of Newport County in England's League 2, Mansfield Town and most recently with Boston United in the National League, where he helped secure the side's safety from relegation after a poor start to the 2024/25 season prior to his appointment.
He was also assistant coach at Barrow this season but departed following relegation from League 2.
The Blues are bottom of the table having failed to win any of their 14 matches this campaign. Jon Daly’s time in charge at the RSC lasted just 13 games, while an interim duo oversaw last Monday's 3-3 draw with Dundalk.
They are currently nine points adrift of Sligo Rovers in ninth place which is a relegation play-off and a further point from overall safety.
Coughlan's first game in charge will be away to St Patrick's Athletic on Friday night, and he said he is eager to get straight to work with the squad.
"I’m delighted to be here at the club. The move happened very quickly, as is the life of football, but I’m excited for this opportunity.
"We’re straight to work now, focusing towards Friday’s game against St. Patrick’s Athletic and the games to follow after that.
"With a busy fixture schedule ahead of us, it’s time to get our heads down and prepare properly, starting with Friday night."
Waterford chairman Jamie Pilley believes Coughlan has the right skillset for the predicament the club are in: "We are delighted to have appointed someone with such experience as Graham at a time when it’s needed the most.
"Graham is a manager who has dragged teams out of trouble on many occasions in the past and we obviously have a very important stage of the season coming up.
"Despite the league position, I think performances in flashes have shown we are more than capable of getting out of the situation we currently find ourselves in.
"The support the club and the players have received in recent months has blown me away, The Blues supporters are unique – you really do stand by your club when the going gets tough.
"Hopefully this appointment can act as a turning point in the season and we can all pull something special off together."
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