Waterford FC have moved quickly to appoint a new Head Coach following the departure of Jon Daly last Saturday morning, with the announcement that Dublin born Graham Coughlan will take charge of the side until the end of the season.

The 51-year-old, who started his football at Bray Wanderers had a 19-year playing career at clubs such as Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Shrewsbury Town and Plymouth, before moving into management in 2018 at Bristol Rovers. He had spells in charge of Newport County in League Two, and most recently with Boston United in the National League, where he helped secure the sides safety from relegation following a poor start to the 2024/25 season before he was appointed.

He will start working with the team immediately ahead of Friday’s visit to St Patricks Athletic.

Speaking on his appointment with the Blues, Coughlan spoke of his eagerness to get straight to work with the squad, saying:

“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.

“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 is delighted to welcome Coughlan to the RSC, outlining:

“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.”

Photo: Courtesy of Waterford FC