Pilley commits to Blues following playoff success 

Waterford FC owner Jamie Pilley has committed to rebuilding the club following their success in the playoff over Bray Wanderers.

Sam Glenfield’s winner 16 minutes from time ensured Waterford retained their top flight status and speaking to WLR at the end of their live coverage of the game, Pilley acknowledged, that 2025 has been a poor season for the Blues and he has promised an immediate response.

“Yeah, it's important we had to win tonight,” he said. “Unfortunately, it's been a disastrous season and this has been the culmination of the cherry on the top of what is a steaming pile of a terrible season. So we've now got to roll into next year. 

"We're going to be doing a big rebuild. We're going to obviously have a new manager coming in. Stay tuned for that in the coming days. We're going to be building a new squad with that manager. We've got a new crest and it's going to really show the new identity of Waterford of what we will be next season.” 

And Pilley acknowledged that surviving a relegation playoff is a salutary lesson for everybody in the Fleetwood Group.

“Yeah, I would totally agree,” he acknowledged. “I think, well, it's not been a good season by any measure. We've churned managers. We've got chaotic losing streaks. 

"But there's a very bittersweet moment right at the end, which is this with 1,500 Waterford fans celebrating with Matt Lawlor as we speak now and all the players. So, yeah, as I say, I'm going to be appointing a new manager in the coming days. We're going to be rebuilding for next year and we're going to be a new Waterford.” 

And as he watched Matt Lawlor and Mark Yeates receive the plaudits, he was full of praise for his coaches.

“Across two stints this season, Matt has took(sic) a numerous amount of points. And if the league was judged just on the games that Matt's been in charge, we'd be sat second in the division. 

"So, it's a testament to Matt, a testament to the team and the backroom staff as well. We've grinded out our Premier Division status for next season.”