Former Dundalk boss Foster appointed first team coach at Portsmouth

Former Dundalk FC manager Ian Foster has been appointed as first team coach of English side Portsmouth.

The Liverpool native will work under new manager Paul Cook, who he would have went head to head with in his League of Ireland when Cook was in charge of Sligo Rovers.

Commenting on the Portsmouth website, Foster said: “The opportunity to work with Paul is something that I’m really looking forward to.

“I’ve known Paul for a long time and we share the same philosophy on how the game should be played.

“Pompey are a great club. I’m delighted to be here and very excited to get started in the role.”

Former Hereford, Kidderminster and Chester striker Foster has also managed Galway and most recently worked as first team coach and development coach at Coventry.

After coming in following Sean Connor’s departure, Foster managed Dundalk during the 2010 and 2011 campaigns during which time the Lilywhites finished sixth and seventh respectively. He also guided Dundalk to a 5-4 aggregrate victory over Luxembourg outfit Grevenmacher in the UEFA Europa League in July 2010 before Dundalk bowed out in the second qualifying round against Levski Sofia.

In 2011 he took the Lilywhites to the Setanta Sports Cup final, where they went down 2-0 to Shamrock Rovers.

Ward departs Oriel Park for Sligo Rovers

New Sligo Rovers manager Owen Heary with new signings Keith Ward (left), Kevin Devaney and Dinny Corcoran

Keith Ward has become the first departure from Oriel Park following last week’s title success having signed with Sligo Rovers.

The 24-year-old was snapped up quickly by new Bit O Red manager Owen Heary, alongside Kevin Devaney and Dinny Corcoran.

Having made his League of Ireland breakthrough with UCD, Ward first arrived at Oriel Park under Ian Foster’s tenure in 2011, helping the side to the Setanta Sports Cup final that year.

He quickly became a fans’ favourite, appearing in 47 of the club’s 50 competitive games that season and scoring five times.

The following year, Ward departed for Bohemians where he regularly featured for Aaron Callaghan’s side.

The 5ft 6in midfielder, who was hugely popular in the dressing room, would return to Oriel Park in December 2012, however, after being snapped up by Stephen Kenny.

However, a cruciate knee ligament injury in June 2013 in the victory over St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park would end Ward’s season and although he signed on for the 2014 campaign last February, it would be the EA Sports Cup clash away to Bray Wanderers in May before he featured for the side.

Opportunities were limited for Ward and although he featured in each game of the side’s EA Sports Cup campaign, he rarely even featured on the bench with the highlight of his season coming in the 7-0 victory over Drogheda Utd at Oriel Park when he made a late, memorable cameo.

A hairline fracture to his back, sustained at the Brandywell in the EA Sports Cup victory over Derry City, added to Ward’s frustrations. However, he remained a popular member of the Lilywhites squad at all times and gaining huge praise for handing his EA Sports Cup winners’ medal over to Dundalk fan Cillian Moran, the son of local Senator Mary Moran.