By well balanced I mean simply that I am devoid of any great insecurities and as a consequence of this I have no axe to grind with any individual or individuals.

Sometimes, in my desire to lay down for your consideration an opening paragraph that captures your imagination, I lose myself, I sort of, forget where I was intent on going. However, you know me by now and you of course understand and even indulge me in this personal idiosyncrasy. I think I have regained composure now.

Others sit above the play and tell us what the players should have done rather than explain what they have done and the reason why the particular action took place. In other words it is very easy and tempting for these people to get lazy and take the soft option of concentrating on the negatives. Personally, because I have rarely known a performing sportsman or woman who did not supply their best efforts, I feel great respect must be paid to those who are still good enough and young enough to perform and whose efforts are essentially paying the bills for people like me.

But ones opinion is important, and especially so when gathered on the back of significant experience. It should also be expressed, and ideally in a way that creates a different perspective to the norm. An analyst really should not state or dwell on what people already know. That talent should be left in the domain of the politicians. An opinion worth listening to is one that entices the listener into another realm of thought or simply awakens the mind from its slumber.  

Ideally, it is my intention to stay away from professional football management. To hasten this intention to fruition I therefore must achieve success in my new position. I will miss football management. The buzz of the dressing room, the excitement of the game, the banter of the fans and the enormous sense of expectation associated with a club like Cork City will obviously leave a void that will take an inordinate amount of filling. However, I am an adaptable person and I have some ideas in my head that will hopefully soon become something more tangible. Allied to this is the fact that one never knows what the future holds and I must admit this to me is one of the great attractions of life.

I am moving back to Dublin over the next week. I cannot but state that this is proving a lot more difficult than I first imagined. It is a genuine wrench to be packing up and taking my leave. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Cork. The last three years have been very demanding but wonderfully fulfilling at the same time. I will miss the impromptu repartee, the accents and the absolutely splendid art of conversation that is thankfully still alive and well in the Rebel County. But much of what I hope to do in the next phase of life requires the networking more freely available in Dublin and as well as that, and far more important at the same time, my wife wants her own house back, which is natural and acceptable and like most men I’ll do almost anything for the quiet life.

It is important to me that I depart Cork with no regrets. Indeed, it is imperative that I take with me an all-encompassing feeling of gladness of a period that provided me with so much satisfaction and enjoyment. I no not believe in luck but I know I am a fortunate man.

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