Sion maintain aspiration of a return to the senior ranks

SION Swifts Ladies are expected to announce what level they will compete in in the Northern Ireland Women’s Football Association (NIWFA) in the coming days.

The north Tyrone club will also be in a position to name a new manager as they begin the process of rebuilding the club following it’s decision to step away from the senior game.

On Monday Sion confirmed that they were withdrawing from the NIFL Women’s Premiership.

The announcement that they were quitting senior football to return to the NIWFA sent shockwaves reverberating through local football. In a statement the club said it was going to “focus its efforts on rebuilding and strengthening the club”.

The club also confirmed that the current management team of Stephen Gray, Stephen Bulger and Thomas Elliott would be stepping down, only a matter of weeks after being appointed.

Announcing the decision a club spokesman said,“This has been a very difficult decision for the Club and while it is deeply regrettable, we believe it is in the best interests of the club, its players and supporters. We look forward to participating in the NIWFA and would like to reassure everyone associated with the Club that we remain committed to the continued development of this fantastic club by working with our grassroots to encourage positive co-operation of the sport.

“Everyone associated with Sion Swifts is determined to work collectively to strengthen and develop the team. Sion Swifts Ladies and Girls FC is committed to grow the club and continue with its important work to empower girls and young women to participate in the sport. We are very grateful to the support we have received to date and look forward to build on our existing fan base in our upcoming matches.”

While the announcement will have come as a shock to the greater football watching public, to those in the know it certainly won’t.

There had been ongoing rumblings that all was not well in the Swifts camp during the off season and that manifested itself in a mass exodus of players in recent weeks.

Midfielder Kelly Crompton signed for Sligo Rovers and there followed a raft of departures to fellow Premiership sides Linfield, Glentoran and Cliftonville and League of Ireland clubs Sligo and Athlone Town.

That exodus of experienced players meant the club were left relying heavily on their under-19 squad to fill the void and a club spokesman said that would have been “unfair” on young players still learning the game.

The club is essentially going back to the basics with the aspiration of one day again playing senior football.

“That will always be the aspiration to play at the highest level again – however long that takes,” continued the spokesperson.
“We are going to bring everything back in house and rebuild from there. We will grow again from our grassroots coming up back through.”

Meanwhile the club are holding a blitz in Melvin Sports Complex this weekend to mark the memory of club stalwart Tommy Canning senior.