Cork City boss Caulfield urges action on players ‘cod-acting’

Cork City manager John Caulfield believes that managers of SSE Airtricity League teams have a duty to prevent their players from setting out to con referees.

The Premier Division leaders face Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross tonight (7.45pm), having clocked up a number of yellow cards in home games against St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers. Caulfield feels it is an unfair reflection and has challenged opponents to act in a more honest fashion.

“The big problem, in my opinion, is that there’s a lot of cod-acting going on,” he said.

“There’s a responsibility on all the managers in the league to send out their teams in the proper way. We’re an honest, hard-working team, not a malicious player amongst us. We’ve had yellow cards against St Pat’s and Shamrock Rovers, but the physio never came on to the pitch.

“I don’t know if people are being influenced or not, but I certainly wouldn’t want one of my players falling over, trying to con the referee. I’ve told them that and I think that we have a duty in the league, all the managers, to make sure that teams go out that way. We’ve had eight cards and, of those, I think you could say that six were ridiculous.”

Despite Monday’s scheduled game against Limerick being postponed, City remain top as Drogheda failed to beat Sligo. Caulfield was glad to have the extra recuperation time following the 3-0 win over Shamrock Rovers.

“After Friday night’s game, we were probably looking forward to playing again,” he said. “In hindsight, we’d have probably needed to make one or two changes and that extra few days’ recovery will help us to prepare better. Colin Healy is still in a bit of difficulty, but other than that, everyone else is going to be okay.”

New signing — and former Sligo player — Iarflaith Davoren comes straight into the squad, with Caulfield happy to have recruited him.

“I have to be very, very careful with the type of players I bring in,” hesaid.

“We’re a local side with tremendous honesty and passion and it’s crucial that any new players have to fit in with that.

“The left-hand side is an area we needed to strengthen. Iarflaith has won one league and three cups but outside of that it was his make-up and his behaviour off the field, all the reports I got about him were top class.”

Davoren is looking forward to challenging for a spot in the side.

“I’m coming here to be part of the squad, I want to play every week and hopefully I will but if I’m not, then I want to be pushing other boys. It’s great to see, everything seems to be on a high, they’ve been keeping a lot of clean sheets so it will be tough to get in.”