Barry-Murphy and Cardiff squad set for pre-season in Cork

Brian Barry-Murphy is already planning for Cardiff City's Championship return on August 8.

Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy. Pic: Nigel French/PA Wire.

Brian Barry-Murphy will bring his Championship-bound Cardiff City back to his hometown of Cork for two friendlies in July.

The son of GAA legend Jimmy delivered on the task he was assigned by his new employers by leading the Bluebirds out of League One at the first attempt.

Automatic promotion, behind title winners Lincoln City, was confirmed with three games remaining, the last one this Saturday at Mansfield Town.

Barry-Murphy, who ventured into management at Rochdale shortly after retiring as the club’s player at 30, is already planning for their Championship return on August 8.

At the centre of their pre-season preparations is a week on Leeside for a training camp and a couple of warm-up matches.

According to Walesonline, the Welsh club arrives in Cork on the week commencing July 13, with the games pencilled in for Tuesday and Friday.

Irish international Callum Robinson will be part of the squad, the 31-year-old having last year extended his contract until 2027.

Before being lured to Cardiff by owner Vincent Tan, Barry-Murphy had a brief spell working in the Premier League as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s assistant at Leicester City.

It was his spell learning from a guru at Manchester City that had the most profound impact on his coaching journey.

“I wouldn’t like to sound like a preacher,” he told the Irish Examiner last year about his stint in charge of City’s U21 team that saw him mentor the likes of Cole Palmer, Oscar Bobb and Romeo Lavia.

“My time at City changed my professional sporting life because of what I got to witness on a daily basis from Pep Guardiola.

“I always had a vision of what I wanted to do and what I got from him was a way of bringing it to life and a training programme that showed me how to do it.”