General
- Friday January 20th, 2012 @ 15:05
RUSSELL ADDED AS BUCKLEY LOOKS TO FINALISE SQUAD
St Patrick's Athletic have completed the signing of former Galway United and Sligo Rovers midfielder John Russell.
The 26 year old enjoyed two successful seasons at The Showgrounds playing 54 league game and scoring 8 goals after spending 7 years at his hometown club Galway United.
Saints' boss Liam Buckley told STPATSFC.COM that he was looking forward to working with Russell:
"John is a very exciting, attacking player who will fit in with the way we will play this season.
"He has been excellent for Sligo over the past two seasons and we're delighted to get him on board.
"Training has been very good so far and we will bring a few more players in over the next week or so to finalise the squad."
Russell is looking forward to the new season in Inchicore and explained to STPATSFC.COM how the move came about:
"Liam phoned me within a few days of his appointed and asked me if I would be interested in coming to Pats.
"With Liam and Trevor Croly part of the package it was a very enticing offer as I was looking to combine football and work, with one eye on the future, having been full-time at Sligo for the past two seasons.
"I'll be based in Dublin full-time so it I'm just looking forward now to getting pre-season training out of the way and to get playing matches.
"One of the main factors in deciding to sign was the style of football that Liam wants us to play which I think is similar to what Paul Cook had us playing in Sligo.
"After training with the lads over the past week I'm really excited to have signed. We have a really good group of players, a lot of them I know, and I think we've started to gel already."
Russell has two FAI Cup winners' medals to his name from the last two seasons and he is fully aware what the competition means to St Pats' fans:
"I'm not sure I'm a lucky charm or anything but it would be nice to win the trophy three seasons in a row and I think we have a chance of being very competitive.
"I know it's a special trophy to the St Pats fans and with the squad of players we have this season there's no reason why we can't compete."
Russell brings Liam Buckley's first team squad to 16 after completing the signing of highly rated former Bohemians' winger Christopher Forrester earlier in the week.
