SLIGO ROVERS have announced the appointment of former club captain Gavin Dykes as their new Head of Youth Development.

Local man Dykes led the Bit O’ Red to FAI Cup Final glory in 1994 and also played with Derry City, Finn Harps and Kildare County. He has also managed Derry City, Finn Harps and Castlebar Celtic.

Dykes told sligorovers.com: “I’m delighted, it’s a huge opportunity for me and a huge compliment to be asked to come in and do it.

“I’ll be looking to build on the club’s recent link with IT Sligo and I know that there was a huge amount of work put into getting that up and running. I see my job as going out and getting the best young players into play for Sligo Rovers and giving them a pathway into professional football.

“I’ll be looking to help educate them on how to not only play but also to educate them on how they are to behave off the pitch as well. As I said it’s a huge opportunity for me and I’m really, really looking forward to it.”

 The club will look to Dykes to cover the recruitment of promising and talented young players for the club on a local, regional and national basis.

To further this goal he will seek to forge stronger ties with the FAI Regional Development Centres, the emerging talent programmes and schoolboy leagues within the Connacht / Ulster region and nationwide, as he seeks to identify and subsequently develop players through the clubs U-19 and A team sides for onward progression into the 1st team playing squad.

 Dykes will also oversee the day-to-day footballing side of the Club’s ground breaking Soccer Scholarship Program with IT Sligo (closing date for receipt of applications is 31st May 2011).

 Sligo Rovers General Manager Packie Lynch feels the Dykes appointment is a natural and progressive step for the Club following on from the recent link-up with IT Sligo:

 “The alliance with IT Sligo is a huge step forward for the club and it was therefore important we selected the right candidate as Head of Youth Development to oversee the footballing aspects of the Scholarship scheme and we couldn’t have wished for a better appointment than Gavin. He’s a Rovers legend and is Bit O’ Red through and through.

“He holds a UEFA “A” coaching licence and has many years playing experience in the League of Ireland to draw on. I look forward to working with him in the next few years as we seek to ensure Sligo Rovers becomes the destination of choice for the best young playing talent locally, regionally and nationwide.”

 Speaking on the Dykes appointment, Sligo Rovers Chairman Michael Toolan stated:

 “We’ve been looking at doing something with our youth structure and at potentially setting up an academy for some time. It’s very important to get the youth structure right especially for the further development of young players and especially local players. Everyone wants to see more players from the region playing with the first team.

“By appointing Gavin we are getting someone with vast football experience both as a player and a manager and also of course he captained Rovers FAI Cup winning side in 1994. He brings a wealth of experience and having sat down and talked with him I could see that he has tremendous enthusiasm and desire for the role.

“He is determined to re-jig the youth structure at the club and will be working in conjunction with Paul Cook on doing this as they look to bring through more of the best young talent in the region. This isn’t a quick fix, it could be years before we reap the fruits of Gavin’s work but it is an important step for the club to take.”

 Gavin Dykes takes up his appointment as Head of Youth Development with immediate effect.