Buckley parts company with Rovers

Third-from-bottom Shamrock Rovers last night terminated manager Liam Buckley's contract, ending his two-and-a-half year reign after a poor series of results.

The 44-year-old Dubliner reached an agreement with club chairman Tony Maguire to relinquish his post with immediate effect.

Rovers have gone on a barren spell of four defeats in the eircom Premier Division recently, and last tasted success in a 2-0 home win over Longford Town on August 2.

The midlanders did gain revenge, defeating Buckley's charges 1-0 in an extra-time FAI Carlsberg Cup third round replay thriller two weeks ago.

In a statement, the club said: "We wish to thank Liam for all his hard work and commitment over the last two and a half seasons, and wish him every success in the future."

Buckley quit rumours had abounded at the turn of the year, as the Dublin club seemed dogged by financial worries, prompting the twice-capped Irish international to surmise: "What business could cope going four months without any money coming in, and still be paying their staff?"

A former favourite in the green-and-white, and the club's leading goal scorer for three seasons from 1980, Buckley hit the headlines again when he guided the Hoops to the second round of the Intertoto Cup in 2003, beating Odra Woodzislaw 2-1 in Poland.

He also led St Patrick's Athletic to the league title in 1998.