Waterford make statement of intent with Pádraig Amond signing

Pádraig Amond is bolstering Waterford’s strikeforce for their Premier Division return by coming back to the league he departed in 2010.

The Carlow native initially moved from Sligo Rovers to Portuguese side Paços de Ferreira but it was in the English lower leagues, where he lined out for Accrington Stanley, Morecambe, Grimsby Town, Hartlepool United, Newport County and Exeter City, that he excelled.

Most recently with Woking, the 35-year-old is cutting short his contract at Michael Doyle’s National League outfit to relocate his young family to Ireland.

Dubliner Doyle, who moved into management after spells at Celtic, Coventry City and Leeds United among others, has reluctantly accepted his striker’s wishes, conscious of concentrating minds on avoiding dropping into the relegation zone. The wheels on Amond’s LOI return were in motion before he was appointed boss four weeks ago.

“It’s disappointing about Podgie to be honest,” Doyle told the club’s official website. “He’s a great professional and was speaking to the club before I came about doing what was best for his family by moving back to Ireland.

“I got that knock on the door on my first day. He was adamant he wanted to move back home with the young kids. I had a chat with him to stick with him over Christmas because nothing would get done until January.

“I tried to turn his head to see the season out but unfortunately it was too good of an opportunity for himself and his family.

“It’s hard to keep a player here against his will. He handled himself brilliantly but he was in with me quite a lot wanting to move on.

“Going forward we need everybody focussed on our situation. We can’t have anybody looking sideways or backways. We’re fighting for our lives.

“Something I