RORY PAID PRICE

Hoops ace confirms he had to take cut in salary after injury disruption

- BY MARK McCADDEN

RORY GAFFNEY admits that he had no choice but to take a pay-cut to land a new Shamrock Rovers contract.

The 35-year-old striker knew there was a chance that he would struggle to return to full fitness after ankle and achilles injuries restricted him to just eight Premier Division appearances last season.

But he was desperate to secure at least one more year with the Tallaght side and have another crack at European football and league glory.

Manager Stephen Bradley revealed after Gaffney’s heroics in Thursday's Europa Conference League win over Ballkani that the Tuam native took a reduction in pay to stay on at Rovers.

When it was put to Gaffney that such commitment was unusual in the modern game, he replied: “I don’t know, no other choice!

"It's just the nature of the beast, isn't it? You've been out for a year, you haven't played. You know, you can't expect to be on the same contract.”

He admitted that not so long ago, he might have been forced out of the game with age and injury going against him.