Cork City boss Tim Clancy calls on more funding for League of Ireland match officials

Cork City manager Tim Clancy believes League of Ireland match officials would benefit from receiving more funding. Pic: Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.

Cork City manager Tim Clancy believes League of Ireland match officials would benefit from receiving more funding and perhaps even going full-time in order to improve the overall standard.

Clancy will be banned for Sligo Rovers’ visit to Turner’s Cross on Friday night having been shown two quick yellow cards in the aftermath of City’s derby defeat to Waterford on Monday night.

The City boss approached referee Damien McGraith and told him he was “shocking” as he felt the official was wrong to show defender Freddie Anderson two yellow cards, which contributed to the Leesiders losing with a late Kyle White strike.

And while Clancy - who had been informed that Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty and Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds had also been cautioned by referee Mark Houlihan during their match on Monday night, along with their respective assistants Daire Doyle and Stephen O’Donnell - insists that managers and coaches can do more to keep their cool, he hinted that more can be done to help those officiating.

“I think Kevin, Daire Doyle, Rennie and Stevie O’Donnell all got booked as well on Monday, so it seems to be a little excessive,” began Clancy.

“Again, as managers and coaches we have got to control ourselves more as well.

“I haven’t heard anything (from the FAI). I don’t know, I’ll see what ban I get or whatever else, but I don’t think I said anything in the post-match interview that was derogatory or insulting or offensive or anything like that.

“Look, it works both ways. We’re not perfect, we make mistakes, players make mistakes, officials are going to make mistakes as well.

“The only thing is we might get questioned a little bit more when we make mistakes or you might hear from us, maybe that’s the only thing.

“From a footballing side of things, we have to conduct ourselves in the best way possible and look, sometimes you are maybe going to say a few things and overstep the mark, that’s understandable.

“I think if you (the press) do go down the route of demanding to speak to match officials after games it can become a very pressured situation then. I don’t know if that would be the answer.

“It’s probably the same as everything else, with more funding and more money going into that maybe they could become full-time or something because every match official, I am led to believe, it’s also their second profession.

“Maybe that’s a situation you look at we’re investing money, we’re asking for infrastructure and everything else, maybe more needs to go in there to help the officials.” On the injury front, Seani Maguire and Greg Bolger underwent scans on Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injuries they suffered against Waterford, but both have been ruled out of the clash with Sligo Rovers.

Cathal O’Sullivan is edging closer to a return to action but Friday’s match comes too soon for the talented playmaker, along with Evan McLaughlin.

O’Sullivan turned 18-years-old on Wednesday which means he can now make the move to the United Kingdom when the next transfer window opens – he was initially prevented from doing so until he reached that landmark age due to Brexit rules – but Clancy believes the speculation that may now mount over his future won’t affect him.

“I didn’t actually know it was his birthday today. He’s 18 now so he’s one of our experienced players I suppose,” joked Clancy.

“We’ll be delighted to get Cathal back in with the group hopefully next week.

“But what can you do like? Speculation or not he can’t leave until the transfer window opens and then the club have to accept a bid so…”