IAN BARACLOUGH SAYS he is ready for a new challenge after leaving Sligo Rovers.
The 43-year-old Englishman, who led the Bit O’Red to the Premier Division title in 2012 and also won the FAI Cup and Setanta Cup during his two-year spell, parted company with the club last week after a string of disappointing results this season.
And today, the former Scunthorpe boss has released a statement through the League Managers Association (LMA), in which he thanked the club, the staff and its fans for their support.
“I’m very proud of our achievements during the past two-and-a-half years at Sligo Rovers, where we won three trophies, helping to put the club back on the map of Irish football,” Baraclough said.
“Whilst football management is a results driven business, I always felt confident that we would enjoy future success.
“I would like to thank the committee, staff and the players for their effort throughout my time at the club and reserve a special mention for my assistants, Gary Stevens and Gavin Dykes, whose support throughout my time at the club was invaluable, and was instrumental in us achieving our success.
“I want to pay tribute to the business community for their support, and the supporters, who are the lifeblood of the club and have been fantastic from day one.
I hope they will remember the good times we enjoyed and I wish them all the best for the future. They have been like a second family to me, offering great support whilst my family were back home in England.
“Sligo is a community-based, family club, and through my own work in the region with junior clubs, both in the city and in rural areas, I have a greater understanding of that aspect of football management.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hope that the club reaps the benefits of our groundwork in future years. Those foundations have been put in place for long-term success, highlighted by the under-19s promotion to the Elite Division, and those players progressing through to the first-team.”
Baraclough, who lined out for the likes of QPR, Notts County and Scunthorpe as a player, believes he has improved as a manager during his time in Ireland and added that he is looking forward to getting back into management in the near future.
“Following my departure I can be certain of this; I am a much better manager and coach now than when I joined Sligo, and I am ready for my next challenge. The success we have enjoyed has only increased my desire to continue learning, and to continue achieving at the highest level possible.
“I am a young coach, stronger for the experience and hungry to prove myself at a club who can match my ambition and football philosophy.”
