Cork City skipper Lyons axed for private reasons, says manager Nash

CRYPTIC OMISSION: Cork City's Charlie Lyons was benched for the hammering at the hands of Shams. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Cork City’s Charlie Lyons was dropped by Ger Nash for reasons which will “remain between” the manager and captain.

City’s relegation threat deepened on Friday when they were hammered 4-1 for the second time this season at the home of trailblazers Shamrock Rovers – keeping them anchored to the bottom.

Lyons was appointed captain by Tim Clancy following promotion but his successor Nash culled him from the defence he set up to try to thwart a rampant Rovers.

A brace by 16-year-old Michael Noonan eased the Hoops into a three-goal lead by the half hour, prompting the manager to introduce Lyons at the break as part of a double-substitution.

Asked afterwards about the 25-year-old’s absence from the starting XI, Nash admitted it wasn’t related to managing players for two home games next week against Drogheda United on Monday and St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday.

Nash, appointed to his first senior managerial job six weeks ago, suggested he wanted a certain profile of player in his preferred team.

“Charlie wasn’t selected for a reason that will stay between him and me,” said the manager, rather cryptically. “He’s available for selection on Monday. We’ll have no excuses on Monday night for not putting players on the pitch who want to represent the club in the right way.

“They can put on a performance in front of our fans to flip what’s been happening over the last couple weeks.” 

 Nash, a former defender with Ipswich Town, was particularly annoyed at the concession of the second goal – a free Pico Lopes header from a curling free-kick whipped in by Dylan Watts.

“I think so, to be honest,” he said about it being the most difficult to accept. “I knew with the team I put out that Rovers were good in that area. I knew it was going to be a challenge because it was out of our hands. We picked from what we had. We worked on it but it definitely felt the key goal.

“We need to keep believing. It’s been tough for everybody at the club but we must fight. I have to fight. So do the staff and the players. “That’s the first thing we’ve to do because we’ve no chance without that.

“Friday was a chastening experience in terms of conceding the first goal so early. Losing the second and third in such quick succession was hugely disappointing and is something we must address quickly.

“We saw tonight how we can create chances and score goals but it's absolutely irrelevant if we defend. A priority is getting better at defending our goal.”