Former Birmingham centre-back Darren Purse is the new Sligo Rovers manager

The 49-year-old succeeds John Russell, who left the club this month to take the Shelbourne job

New Sligo Rovers manager Darren Purse. Pic from Sligo Rovers FC

Fri, 24 Jul, 2026 - 09:52

Cian Locke

Sligo Rovers have appointed former Birmingham City Premier League star Darren Purse as their new manager. Purse will have an 18-month contract and takes charge immediately for Saturday night's home game with Drogheda United.

The 49-year-old succeeds John Russell, who left the club this month to take the Shelbourne job after four years as boss in Sligo.

Purse joins from Cardiff City where he served as assistant manager of the first team as well as running the loans programme for the club's u21s and u23s.

A centre-half capped at England Under-21 level, Purse also played for Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday. He famously scored a last-minute penalty in the 2001 League Cup final defeat by Liverpool.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started,” Purse told sligorovers.com.

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“When the opportunity came up I rang a few people I know who have worked in football around Ireland, and every one of them said the same thing. It’s a really good football club, and one I’m looking forward to taking places.”

Purse inherits a side bottom of the Premier Division after 24 games, and he is under no illusions about the immediate task.

“You can have a long-term plan as much as you want, but the big thing for us is winning games over the next 12 and staying in this division,” he says.

“After that you can set your plans for the season after, and the season after that. Right now it’s about winning football matches.”

“You have to be the leader who sets the standards. If you’re going to win football matches you need desire and work ethic around you, as a club and as a team, and that’s what I want to bring here.

“I’ve watched the last few games back and there’s plenty of quality in that dressing room to get us up the table. It’s my job to get the best out of each individual player to achieve that.”