Gerard Nash in advanced talks to take over as Cork City head coach

ADVANCED TALKS; Gerard Nash could be set to take over as Cork City head coach. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Cork City are set to have their first permanent head coach since May, with Gerard Nash in advanced talks to fill the vacancy.

City have been searching for a new boss since Colin Healy stepped down back in May with Richie Holland and Liam Buckley taking over on a interim basis.

Holland took sole control in recent weeks as the search continued for Healy's long-term successor but he couldn't prevent City from avoiding relegation.

The Rebel Army were beaten 2-1 by Waterford after extra time in their promotion/ relegation playoff at Tallaght Stadium last Friday week, meaning they will be playing first division football in 2024.

Buckley has reverted to the role he was recruited as Director of Football, while Holland could resume his position as assistant coach to the new boss.

Nash was a promising young defender, part of an age-group that included Paul McShane, Stephen Ireland and Joey O'Brien, breaking into the Ipswich Town first-team at 17.

Two serious knee injuries, however, stunted his progress and the difficult decision to retire on medical advice rerouted him into coaching.

He spent 14 years at Ipswich in various roles, from Under-23 team coach to loans monitor and even helped with first-team duties on an interim basis after Mick McCarthy in 2018.

He took up a role as one of the FAI's High Performance coaches in 2021 but was last year headhunted by Aston Villa to become head coach of their Under-18 team.

A deal bringing him back to Ireland again is expected to be competed between the next 24 to 48 hours, enabling him to assemble a new squad to undertake the task of immediate promotion.

He'll be starting virtually from scratch as the vast majority of City's squad are free agents, with a number already in negotiations to remain in the Premier with other clubs.

Josh Honohan last week joined Shamrock Rovers while top scorer Ruairi Keating signed for St Patrick's Athletic

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