COUGHLAN COMMITS: Waterford FC boss signs new two-year deal ahead of the FAI Cup Final

Waterford FC have secured one of their most important signatures ahead of next Sunday's FAI Cup Final after manager Graham Coughlan agreed a new two-year contract extension with the club.

The announcement represents a significant statement of intent from the Blues, who have enjoyed a hugely positive campaign under Coughlan's leadership since returning to the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Having guided Waterford to a comfortable seventh-place finish while also leading the club to its first FAI Cup Final appearance in more than a decade, Coughlan is now preparing for the next phase of the club's development.

Speaking after confirming the agreement, the Waterford manager revealed the decision had been made long before formal discussions took place.

"It was never going to take a long time. I'm more than happy where I am," he said.

"My missus will tell you that. It was her decision, it was the kids' decision and they probably made that decision for us back in September or October. They can see I was more than happy."

Coughlan joked that there were no lucrative financial incentives behind his decision, insisting his focus remains firmly on building something sustainable at the RSC.

"I'm a bit long in the tooth now. I'm not in the game for financial gain," he said.

"Once the family is okay, once the kids and my missus are alright, that's the important thing. I love it here."

The former Bristol Rovers manager believes Waterford now have an opportunity to establish themselves as a stronger force in Irish football, but only if the club continues progressing both on and off the pitch.

"The main thing for me was if staying was trying to build, trying to grow, trying to push on and be a bit stronger year after year," he explained.

"If we can do that and push things on, then I think we've got a future."

While delighted with the progress achieved this season, Coughlan made it clear that merely surviving in the Premier Division is not enough for his ambitions.

"We want to push the club on and we want to try and be better," he said.

"We want to avoid these playoffs and survival and relegation battles. Can we get a different tag to the club? Can we get a different reputation?

"Can we push on and challenge in cup finals on a regular basis? Can we break into the top three or top four in this country?"

The Waterford boss also acknowledged the realities of modern football finances but stressed that continued growth remains the priority.

"I see so many supporters around the town and they're smiling and they're brimming," he said.

"I'd like to be able to keep that and, while you can keep pumping the balloon up, let's keep pushing forward if we can."

For Waterford supporters, Coughlan's signature may prove every bit as important as any player recruitment over the coming months. The manager who has restored belief around the club has now committed his future, and with an FAI Cup Final still to come, the optimism surrounding the Blues shows no sign of fading.