THE VACANT MANAGER’S job at Cork City is expected to attract applicants from far and wide, but the SSE Airtricity League club are likely to look closer to home to select a successor to John Caulfield.
After over five years in charge, Caulfield parted company with City this morning amid a run of poor form which has seen them fail to win in eight games.
The new boss will have a hard act to follow in replacing a man who guided the Leesiders to two FAI Cups and a first Premier Division title in 12 years.
Ahead of Friday night’s game away to Bohemians, City will announce an interim manager tomorrow morning. The42 understands that the club intends to wait until the end of the season before installing a permanent first-team boss.
Having served as John Caulfield’s assistant since his appointment in November 2013, John Cotter has often been touted as his most likely successor.
Cotter was an FAI Intermediate Cup winner as a manager with Avondale United before joining Caulfield’s backroom staff. The former Cork City midfielder is currently enrolled on the FAI’s course for the Uefa Pro Licence, which is required to manage at Premier Division level.
Another ex-City midfielder among the prospective candidates is Colin Healy. Although the former Ireland international lacks senior management experience, Healy has made a positive impression at the club while managing the U19s in tandem with his role as head of the academy.
A stumbling block for Healy is that he has yet to attain his Uefa Pro Licence. City would be willing to explore the possibility of following Dundalk’s lead in resolving this issue. Vinny Perth was named the Lilywhites’ head coach in January, the absence of the relevant coaching badge from his CV negated by the presence of John Gill on the staff.
Current Longford Town manager Neale Fenn — a Premier Division winner as a player with Cork City in 2005 — will also be high on the list of early favourites to replace John Caulfield. Fenn’s undefeated side are a point clear at the summit of the First Division, despite having played a game fewer than each of their title rivals.
Fenn’s style of football, which places an emphasis on short passing and the retention of possession, will appeal to the many Cork City supporters who grew frustrated at the direct approach deployed by Caulfield. Like John Cotter, Fenn is in the process of working towards his Uefa Pro Licence.
Colin O’Brien, who played for City for over 13 years, would also be a popular choice. O’Brien is currently in charge of the Republic of Ireland U17 side who will begin their European Championship campaign against Greece in Tallaght on Friday.
Outside candidates could include Waterford manager Alan Reynolds — who had a stint on John Caulfield’s coaching staff — and Cobh Ramblers boss Stephen Henderson.
Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:
You don’t know what went on behind the scenes but at face value it looks like Moreno was treated very poorly
I’m not exactly sure what Moreno expected here. He was always going to be an interim manager. He was there for 5 months while they pummelled mickey mouse teams. Noel King would have comfortably managed that task. 10 weeks ago, he appeared to be happy for Enrique to take his rightful job back but since then he seems to have become bullish and wanted the job full time. That was never going to happen. Poor form to make things awkward for Enrique on his return and kick up this kind of fuss.
@M: based on what he said, it appears he would have been happy to be assistant again but Enrique must have seen him as a threat to his authority
@M: It was Enrique that made things awkward by saying he was ambitious and disloyal. Imagine if Mick had been out for personal reasons some of qualifying campaign, Robbie Keane had taken over temporarily, and then Mick came back, Robbie stepped aside to facilitate a return and then Mick fired him for the crime of taking over while he was gone and started badmouthing him to the press. As things stand, tragic circumstances aside, Enrique looks to be in the wrong here, though perhaps there’s more to it behind the scenes.
@ScewMadd: apparently Moreno asked him to let him stay in charge for the Euros and Enrique said no. That’s the fallout. The “another replacement wouldn’t have been so accommodating” thing is silly in light of that. Certainly does sound ambitious and a little disloyal. But the full comments from Enrique aren’t as bad as the headlines suggest