O’Halloran: I had to leave Cork City

FORMER Cork City captain Greg O’Halloran has said he felt he was left with no option but to leave the club after being offered what he has described as a “laughable” contract.

O’Halloran’s departure from the club was announced yesterday, though he was aware he would not be leading the club out in the Premier Division since late last year.

“I spoke to (City manager) Tommy Dunne in the middle of November, about two weeks after we won the league,” he said.

“I was offered a near-80% reduction in wages and it was pretty much a case of ‘take it or leave it’.

“I said I’d leave it off, it wasn’t worth it when you’re training Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, playing a match Friday and training again Saturday or a Sunday, on top of a full-time job.”

He was not surprised at the amount on offer, however.

“I wasn’t, I suppose,” he admitted.

“In my opinion it was just a token gesture, I got the feeling that Tommy probably didn’t want me, he did most of the talking. I knew it was going to come, I’m not stupid, but that’s the way it goes, you see it every day in football, there’s no hard feelings.

“The way things are now, it’s a young man’s game, someone who’s in college or living with their parents, as you can’t play for a pittance.

“I’ll still go to games and continue to support FORAS because what they’re doing is brilliant and it’s fantastic that they’ve taken the club to where it is, I was happy to be part of it.”

Dunne refused to be drawn on the issue, other than to acknowledge the facts. “I spoke to Greg and the two parties didn’t come to an agreement, so we wished each other the best for the future,” Dunne said. “The percentage he mentioned is wrong but I’m not going to get involved in what was discussed between us, it’s not anybody else’s business, but if Greg wants to talk about, that then that’s up to him.”

No new captain has been yet announced, with Dunne preferring to wait until closer to the start of the season. “I haven’t made a decision about the captaincy, in truth I haven’t thought about it, when I’ve the squad finalised I’ll make an appointment.

“We’d hope to have our squad in place for the season in the next week or 10 days.”