Waterford FC confirms retained and released lists ahead of 2027 season
Waterford FC manager Graham Coughlan.
Waterford FC have provided supporters with an encouraging glimpse of their plans for 2027 after confirming that a substantial core of the squad that carried the club to the FAI Cup final will remain at the RSC next season.
Experienced trio Pádraig Amond, Conan Noonan and Evan McLaughlin headline a retained group that will form the foundation of Graham Coughlan's squad for the new campaign.
Crucially for Waterford, the retained list also includes Tommy Lonergan, the Premier Division's leading goalscorer in 2026. The striker's impressive exploits have reportedly attracted interest from a number of clubs in the UK, making his inclusion among those currently set to return another major boost for the Blues as they prepare for next season.
The club has also moved quickly to secure the futures of six first-team players in recent days, with John Mahon, Benny Couto, Hayden Cann, Arlo Doherty, Goforth Amedu and Jorgen Voilas all committing their futures to the club for 2027.
Those renewals ensure Waterford will retain a significant portion of the squad that enjoyed another impressive Premier Division campaign and captured the imagination of supporters throughout their memorable run to the FAI Cup final.
Mahon was one of the standout performers during his first year at the club, making 39 appearances while contributing five league goals from defence. Cann was another ever-present figure at the heart of the back line, making 41 appearances in all competitions, while Couto emerged as one of the division's most effective attacking wing-backs, recording 12 assists and three goals during an excellent debut season in blue.
Voilas also enjoyed an impressive first campaign following his arrival from Swedish side Umea FC, making 38 appearances and scoring four league goals, while young goalkeeper Doherty and promising defender Amedu have also been rewarded with new deals.
The retained list for next season also includes Igor Bacela, Noah O'Brien, Aaron Brennan, Orion Cala, Zak O'Sullivan and Jesse Dempsey, who is currently gaining valuable experience on loan with Fleetwood Town.
There was further positive news for supporters with confirmation that Noah Mawene remains part of Waterford's plans under the terms of his loan agreement from Fleetwood Town, which runs until June 2027.
Meanwhile, discussions remain ongoing with Ronan Mansfield as the club continues its planning for the new season.
While attention has naturally focused on those staying, Waterford also confirmed that Stephen McMullan, Blair McKenzie and Will Johnson have returned to their parent clubs following the completion of their loan spells at the RSC.
The latest announcements will be viewed as a significant statement of intent from the club. Having established themselves in the Premier Division and united the south-east through their historic run to the Aviva Stadium, Waterford have moved quickly to secure many of the players who helped drive that progress.
With proven leaders such as Amond, Noonan and McLaughlin remaining, the league's top scorer Lonergan still on the books, and six players already committing their futures to the club, Coughlan has been handed a strong platform from which to build as Waterford set their sights on another ambitious campaign in 2027.
While much of the focus this week has centred on the players Waterford FC have retained for 2027, the club's squad update also marked the end of the road for a number of players who played their part in one of the most memorable seasons in the club's recent history.
Ten players will depart the RSC following the expiry of their contracts, with Jordan Houston, Joe Ashton, Trae Coyle, Kevin Long, Luke Heeney, Jordan Faria, Sam Glenfield, Dean McMenamy, Sean Keane and Alan Zborowski all moving on.
The departures bring an end to varying spells at the club, with several of those players helping Waterford establish themselves in the Premier Division and contribute to a campaign that culminated in a memorable run to the FAI Cup final.
Benny Couto John Mahon Evan McLaughlin Pádraig Amond Conan Noonan Hayden Cann Tommy Lonergan Jorgen Voilas Arlo Doherty Goforth Amedu Igor Bacela Noah O’Brien Aaron Brennan Orion Cala Zak O’Sullivan Jesse Dempsey (on loan at Fleetwood Town FC)
Noah Mawene until June 2027
Ronan Mansfield
Jordan Houston Joe Ashton Trae Coyle Kevin Long Luke Heeney Jordan Faria Sam Glenfield Dean McMenamy Sean Keane Alan Zborowski
Stephen McMullan (Fleetwood Town FC) Blair McKenzie (Swansea City FC) Will Johnson (Fleetwood Town FC)
