Record fee as Bennett finally hits top flight

THERE are mixed emotions at Turner’s Cross today as Cork City rue the loss of a valued player but welcome what is believed to be a record-breaking eircom League fee which, after quite a protracted transfer saga, has finally taken Alan Bennett to Premiership Reading.

Adhering to a confidentiality clause, Cork City would not comment on the details of the deal but is it understood that they will receive around €300,000 for the 25-year-old defender. In a statement last night, the club said that they were sad to lose the player but that his desire to play in the Premiership had been “the pivotal aspect” of the decision to sell him to Reading.

City manager Damien Richardson yesterday described the transfer negotiations as “painfully slow, sometimes cordial and sometimes less than cordial” but paid tribute to the player for the patience and professionalism with which he conducted himself over the past few weeks.

Said Richardson: “He’s been first- class in that he’s never once run to the newspapers to bemoan publicly the fact that, for a time, it looked like he wasn’t going to get his life’s ambitions realised and go to the Premiership.

“But his professionalism and integrity throughout this were quite wonderful. While we didn’t want to lose him, I’ve spent a lot of time working with him closely and for me, personally, it’s very satisfying that he is going to one of the best clubs in the Premiership. It’s a compliment to all of us in Cork City that Reading were so persistent in acquiring him.

“We’re getting respect from English clubs — they now know that they must come in with a realistic price, that they have to be mindful that when they’re dealing with Cork City it’s not with some part-time club as some of the English papers would have you believe.”

Speaking before the deal was concluded yesterday evening, Reading boss Steve Coppell said: “Alan Bennett is someone we’ve known about for a while and it’s an interesting opportunity for both of us to see if he can bridge the gap.

“Because of the Irish season he’s not played since November but he’s a fit type of lad. Only in training could you see exactly for sure, though.”

It was announced yesterday that Cork City’s pre-season games will include a match against Waterford United in aid of the Dunmore East Fishing Disaster Appeal. It will take place on Friday March 2 at the RSC.

Meanwhile, as was widely expected, Bohemians have confirmed that Glen Crowe has resigned for the club. Bohs manager Sean Connor had made no secret of his desire to see the former Dalymount Park favourite linking up with new strike partner Neale Fenn, who joined Bohs from Cork at the end of the season.

Crowe’s departure from Shelbourne, after two seasons at the club, follows hot on the heels of another flurry of Tolka Park exits over the weekend.

These changes saw Dave Rogers linking up with former boss Pat Fenlon at Derry, Jamie Harris joining Stephen Kenny at Dunfermline, Colin Hawkins signing for Coventry City and Richie Baker moving to Drogheda United.

Embattled Shels are now left in the extraordinary situation of having only one contracted player — Alan Moore — still on their books just four weeks before their season starts with a Setanta Cup game against Portadown. Former Cork City midfielder Greg O’ Halloran is still at the club but is reportedly considering offers from Sligo Rovers and St Mirren.

Caretaker chairman Finbarr Flood, who has taken over the running of the club following the hospitalisation of Chief Executive Ollie Byrne, said that the Management Committee has been “hard at work away from the glare of publicity to ensure that the club is prepared for the coming season”.

A priority is to appoint a new manager, with Longford Town boss Alan Mathews now the favourite to succeed Pat Fenlon.