Cork City appoint Clancy as new head coach, Buckley departs sporting director role
SHREWD APPOINTMENT: Tim Clancy. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Cork City have announced the appointment of Tim Clancy as the club's new head coach, as well as the departure of sporting director Liam Buckley.
Despite current Aston Villa under-18 head coach Gerard Nash being heavily linked to the vacant head coach job, City have secured the services of experienced League of Ireland boss Clancy.
Clancy's Friday evening appointment was quickly followed by news of Buckley's departure after only six months at the club.
City's statement regarding Buckley noted: "Following internal discussions, Liam Buckley will leave the role with immediate effect.
"The club would like to place on the record our thanks to Liam for his work with the club over the past 6 months and wish him the very best of luck in the future."
Following his retirement as a player at the end of the 2017 season, Clancy took over as Drogheda United boss, winning promotion to the Premier Division in 2020.
The 39-year-old then guided Drogheda to a seventh place finish in the Premier Division, before moving to St. Patrick’s Athletic ahead of the 2022 season.
Clancy secured a fourth place finish and European qualification in his first year at Inchicore. He departed the Saints in May 2023, where he was replaced by then-assistant manager, Jon Daly.
The Meath native's appointment brings City's lengthy search for a new boss to an end. Following the departure of club legend Colin Healy in May, Richie Holland and now departed sporting director Buckley took charge at various points until the season's end, but neither were able to save City from the drop.
The Rebel Army were defeated by Waterford after extra time in their promotion/relegation playoff earlier this month, consigning them to First Division football in 2024.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Cork City and cannot wait to get started," Clancy said of his appointment. "Since speaking to everyone at Cork City, this is an opportunity that I could not pass up and I am really looking forward to the challenge.
“I know that the fans and the people at the club are hurting right now after the season just gone, but this club is one of the biggest in the country and there is huge potential here. The opportunity is there to galvanise everyone at the club and get everyone working together to fight for a return to the Premier Division at the first attempt.
“We want to put a Cork City team out on the pitch that will entertain the supporters and challenge at the top of the table. The support at Turner’s Cross last season was incredible despite a difficult season, so we want to give them something to shout about in 2024.”
City owner Dermot Usher cited Clancy's previous First Division title win and knowledge of playing personnel as a key benefit of the appointment.
“We are delighted to announce Tim as our new men’s first-team head coach," Usher said. "He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and depth of experience at an important time for our club.
“Tim is an experienced manager and knows what it takes to gain promotion out of the First Division, and he has a very good working knowledge of the players in both divisions in this league.
“Everyone connected with Cork City found the end to last season hard to take, but we must move forward together for the benefit of the club.
"Our supporters have been incredible throughout recent seasons, and will dig deep again to play their part in getting City back to where it belongs. My commitment is to do everything I can - as owner - to help with that fight back.
“Our key priority is to put together a competitive squad for the forthcoming season, and we expect to make further announcements regarding player signings over the coming days.”
Clancy will be expected to secure promotion back to the Premier Division at the first time of asking.
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