Graham Coughlan appointed as Waterford head coach until end of season 

Graham Coughlan has been appointed as First Team head coach at Waterford FC.

Graham Coughlan has been announced as the new head coach of Waterford FC on a deal until the end of the Premier Division season.

Dubliner Coughlan, who enjoyed a 19-year playing career before moving into management in 2018 at Bristol Rovers, replaces Jon Daly in the RSC hot seat following his departure after last Friday's loss to Shamrock Rovers.

The club currently sit rock bottom, having only garnered six points from their opening 14 games, and are nine points off Sligo in the relegation play-off spot. 

The 51-year-old had a spell in charge of Newport County in League Two, and 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. 

His most recent gig was as an advisor at Barrow, but he left the club following their recent relegation from League Two. 

"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," Coughlan said. "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."

Club chairman Jamie Pilley added: “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."

Coughlan’s back-room team will be finalised in due course.