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Sligo Rovers have confirmed the signing of Danny Ledwith from Shamrock Rovers and an extension to Ross Gaynor’s contract.

Ledwith, 22, is a left-back that previously played for UCD and the Hoops.

Manager Ian Baraclough said: “Danny is a player I first noticed when he was at UCD. He is comfortable on the ball, has a very good left-foot and he’s a kid that wants to progress.

“He made the wrong decision signing for Shamrock Rovers. It was a big move that came too soon perhaps.

“It will do him no harm in a way that he knows what it is like to be in the environment of a club that has aspirations and expectations of winning trophies. He will find it more forgiving here perhaps in terms of the Showgrounds supporters.

“The left side is an area we want to be strong in and we already have good options.

“Danny is a young player but at 22 he is looking for games, for regular football and he can get that here.

“There will be competition but I will have no fear whatsoever in the prospect of Danny becoming a first-choice left-back if he grasps the opportunity and can nail down a place.

“He has the talent and we think he has the right character. He is UCD-coached and that is similar to the way we play. Danny will fit in well.”

On Gaynor’s re-signing, Baraclough said: “Ross joined the club as a winger but I feel he is better at left-back. He has the ability to play in the two positions on the left side.

“He has a great left foot, he can go and attack with enthusiasm and he wants to get more from himself next season. Ross has contributed a lot to the squad over the last two years.

“He can improve defensively, he needs to show more consistency in his game and that is in his own opinion. He picked up a bad knee injury during the course of 2012 that kept him out for 10 weeks and next year he’ll look to have a big year and it’s great to have him on board.”

Ledwith said: “I'm absolutely delighted. I didn't have the year I wanted last year. To come to such a successful club over the last few years, I'm absolutely delighted. Sligo Rovers have won things the last number of years on the trot so I'm thrilled to be here.

“Last year I had a few injuries but clearly I wasn’t in the manager's plans. This year, to be honest I just want to get back to enjoying football again. I know down in Sligo I'll be in a good step up with some of the top players in the country and I'll be training every day and hopefully get back into a team and cement a place.

“I've spoken to people who have been at the club and they have said it is a great place to live and it is a great footballing camaraderie down there so I'm looking forward to that.

“All everyone wants to do is play and it didn't happen. I got frustrated and I wasn't enjoying football for the first time in my life. In 2014, I just want to start enjoying it again.

“When I spoke to the manager and he spoke about getting the league title back and winning honours and it excited me. Sligo is a massive club with great players and with the squad he is putting together, we will hope to up there. You see last year with the FAI Cup final and what a display that was. I'm really excited to get down there and try to win some silverware.

“When I was at UCD I was enjoying my football, I was playing every week. When I go to Sligo, hopefully I can get in the team. There are not many better places to be.

“Paul O'Conor and I go back to the UCD days, we have been good mates ever since. It is nice to have him around the place and hopefully he will get me into the gym!”