Waterford FC have confirmed that Marc Bircham has extended his stay at the club.
The 43-year old came to the RSC in May with the team bottom of the league following the departure of Kevin Sheedy and Mike Newell.
The London native opened his tenure at the club with an uneasy start. A covid outbreak amongst the playing group and several injuries left him fighting an uphill battle, but since that time he has guided the side out of the relegation zone and into eighth place.
Speaking to the Blues club website, the former QPR midfielder said “I’m delighted to get this sorted. It’s been a really enjoyable few months since I’ve arrived here and we’re building momentum around the club. The owner Richard, chairman Mitch and everyone around the club are trying to build something great here and I want to be a part of that. Since I’ve come in I’ve really enjoyed the challenge, working with the staff and players every day has been great and we’ve really started to make progress so I’m thrilled to be able to put that stability in place and concentrate on our on-field work.”
BACKING BIRCHAM | Waterford FC is delighted to announce that manager Marc Bircham has signed a new contract with the club until the end of the 2023 season.
More Info 👉 https://t.co/MRllJDd37D#WaterfordFC pic.twitter.com/gMKtLCjmDH— Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) August 5, 2021
Some of the stand-out moments for Bircham since he came to the club include a first win in Ballybofey since 2013 and a comfortable 3-1 defeat of Dundalk in Oriel Park.
In recent weeks, his team played out the most entertaining game of the season when they needed penalties to overcome Athlone Town in the FAI Cup; 4-4 at full time meant that penalty kicks were needed to pick a winner.
While he has been at the club, the ownership model has changed - with Richard Forrest acquiring the club from Lee Power. The Essex native has spoken at length of his desire to build the club into a force in Irish football. Bircham had been made assurances by the previous owner in regards to summer signings and Forrest copper fastened those assurances with several players brought in to strengthen the squad - Eddie Nolan, Junior Quitirna, Goerge Forrest, and Jeremie Milambo to name a few.
The club owner said that “We’re delighted that Marc wants to be a part of what we’re trying to build here at Waterford FC. Marc has been a breath of fresh air around the club and you can really see the progress we’re making. On and off the pitch we’re looking to build the club and get us moving in the right direction. We’ve backed Marc, and he's worked with myself and Mitch to bring is some quality players that will excite the fans in the RSC and around the country. Securing Marc is important for the club and ensures stability so we can focus on bringing the club forward. We hope to see as many fans as possible in the RSC this weekend and going forward to cheer on Marc and the team.”
It’s all coming together,, boys are working so hard now,,, beating top off the table team,,, this team keeps on giving,,
Well done the blues💙💙💙— richard forrest (@richieforeest) July 18, 2021
This weekend, Birchams team host Bohemians at the RSC with the Dublin outfit sitting fourth in the standings. A home win for the Blues would see them reduce the gap to Dundalk in seventh.
