Richardson returns to finish job at City

DAMIEN RICHARDSON has been confirmed as the new boss of Cork City, returning to the club he managed in the early 1990s.

Richardson said that it was the lure of his old club which brought him back into management.

"I know it sounds corny but it's because it's Cork. I loved my time here before and felt there was unfinished business.

"I didn't realise exactly how much I wanted the job until I met the chairman but now I want to get out there working and try to win something."

With the transfer window closing today time was always going to be against the new manager bringing players in, but Richardson insists that he is more than happy with what he's got.

"This is a very good Cork side and it would have to be a special player who would get into it. I don't think any players who are available now are good enough to get in the team," he said.

Chairman Brian Lennox says he is confident that the club can put the turmoil of the past week behind them, even though players are known to have been upset by the dismissal of Pat Dolan after two successful years at the club.

"With the new manager in I'm sure they'll settle down and get back to putting their minds to what they do best - playing football," said Lennox.

Richardson, 57, starred for Shamrock Rovers when they won six FAI Cups-in-a-row in the late 'sixties. He won three Irish caps and also played for Gillingham, the club which then gave him his debut in management. Back in Ireland, he managed Cork City (1993/94), Cobh Ramblers (1995), Shelbourne (1995-98) and Shamrock Rovers (1999-2002). Recently Richardson has become familiar to a wide audience as a television analyst.

City's new managerial era begins with a friendly against Waterford United at Turners Cross next Monday March 7, followed by a tsunami relief fund-raiser against Cobh Ramblers in St Colman's Park on Thursday March 10.

Meanwhile, legal representatives for the club and Pat Dolan were in negotiations yesterday with a view to arriving at what an adviser to the former manager called "an amicable resolution" of the differences between the two parties.

Dolan had a year left to run on his contract when he was dismissed as manager on Tuesday night. Though constrained from talking in detail about his sacking for legal reasons, Dolan has let it be known that his former players had been in touch with him both in person and by phone to offer their commiserations.

George O' Callaghan told TV3: "I'm very disappointed. I feel maybe there's two sides to the story and I'd be very loyal to Pat as well. I just feel maybe it was a bit unfair."

John O'Flynn echoed his teammate about their ex-manager: "He's been my friend as well as a manager. Like, the times when I was injured, Pat went through everyone to get me the right rehab. And I thank him for that. I'm very disappointed."

Yesterday, Dolan declined to comment on rumours linking him to Limerick, where Noel O' Connor, his former assistant at Turner's Cross, is manager.

City striker Stephen O'Flynn has been having talks with Derry City about a possible move to the Brandywell.

Cork City showed the gulf in class between the Premier Division and the First Division with this 3-1 win over Limerick in a friendly at Garryduff yesterday.

Stuart Ashton took over the managerial duties

City went in front after 24 minutes when Kevin Doyle buried a header past Limerick keeper John Healy after a great cross from Liam Kearney.

Both sides made several substitutions in the second half and it was two of City's who combined to put them two in front after 63 minutes. Neale Fenn received the ball from a throw in and his overhead-kick was powered home by the head of Denis Behan.

Four minutes later, Liam Kearney was brought down inside the area and he buried the spot kick low to Healy's left.

Jamie Nolan, on loan at Limerick from City, grabbed his side's consolation goal in injury time.

CORK CITY: Devine (McNulty 58), O'Halloran (Murphy h/t), Horgan, Bennett, Murray, O'Brien, Gamble, Woods (O'Mahony 63), Kearney (Nwanko 70), Doyle (Behan 58), O'Callaghan (Fenn h/t).

LIMERICK: Healy, O'Mahony, Tobin, Finucane (Ryan 81), Wolfe (Costello 88), Barrett (Hughes h/t), Kearns (McCarthy h/t), Molan (Lynch 83), Young (Conlon 54), Stokes (O'Brien h/t), Kelleher (Nolan h/t).

Referee: Alan Kelly.