Transfers can benefit Irish players, says Staunton
Alan Bennett’s transfer from Cork City to Reading yesterday made him the 13th player this month to move across the water from the eircom League. And the Irish manager believes that those who get the opportunity to play at the highest level can only benefit from the experience.
Said Staunton: “Of course the League of Ireland clubs don’t want to lose their top players but it’s nothing different to what has gone on for the last 20 or 30 years when people like Ronnie Whelan and others were going across.
“But it seems like the League of Ireland has progressed, players seem to be getting better and fitter. Obviously the talent’s not around over in England or Scotland so they’re picking up players from this side.
“I think if they’re going to Championship clubs or Premiership clubs then of course it’s going to benefit them. They’re playing against top players at top clubs. They’re up against international players week in and week out so it can only benefit them.”
Bennett yesterday agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract to commit to the Royals to the end of the 2008/9 season.
He admitted: “It’s been a long three weeks with phone calls back and forth, I had a couple of sleepless nights but it’s all paid off now, which is great.
Negotiations took a while. The club (Cork City) wanted a good price, which I don’t blame them for — and I think they got it in the end. Once I got over here though, everything was agreed quickly. Now it’s finally done and I’m delighted to be here.”
Bennett will now team up with his former team-mates Kevin Doyle and Shane Long. “Doyler and Shane have come over and done so well; I will be trying to follow in their footsteps, which will be hard because they’ve set high expectation levels.”
Bennett also had kind words to offer the Turners Cross club.
“I’d like to thank everyone in Cork and Brian Lennox and Damien Richardson at Cork City for the last six and a half years at the best club in the country. It gave me the stepping stone for this move to Reading and I am eternally grateful to them.”
His signing came too late for him to be considered for last night’s Premiership clash with Wigan, where Reading came from behind to win 3-2 at the Madejski Stadium.
The visitors got off to the best possible start when, three minutes in, Emile Heskey finished with a left foot volley.
Reading drew level when Ivar Ingimarsson glanced a header into the net.
The Royals took lead when Kirkland punched a Glen Little cross straight onto the head of Stephen Hunt, who nodded goalward for Shane Long to score.
Kirkland was later beaten to the ball by Dave Kitson, with the resultant deflection finding Leroy Lita, who could not miss. Denny Landzaat pulled a goal back for the visitors in injury-time.
READING: Hahnemann, Murty, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Lita, Long (Kitson 80).
WIGAN: Kirkland, Taylor, Boyce, Unsworth (Jackson 69), Baines, Valencia, Landzaat, Skoko, Folan, Heskey (Kilbane 58), McCulloch (Johansson 65).
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
