Cotter in for Caulfield
John Cotter has this morning been appointed as interim manager for Cork City FC.
Club captain player Alan Bennett and Head of the Academy Colin Healy will join Cotter's team of management with immediate effect. The appointment comes after it was confirmed yesterday that John Caulfield had departed the club.
Cotter, who is a UEFA A Licence holder and currently on the Pro Licence course, said: “I’m delighted and honoured to take up this new interim role. I’m looking forward to getting the head down now and trying to get the club back up the table as quickly as possible. We have an excellent team of backroom staff that can achieve that.”
Commenting on the news, Bennett said: “It has been an honour to play for and captain this club, and I am now looking forward to working with John and the rest of the backroom staff over the coming days and weeks. Our focus now is on preparing the team for tomorrow’s game at Dalymount Park and trying to put together a run of results that will help propel the team back up the table.”
Cork City chairman Declan Carey said “John Cotter is a very experienced coach and manager, with a long association with our club. He is highly respected both within the club and in the wider footballing community. He will take up the position on an interim basis, and the board will soon begin planning for our longer-term options for first team manager.
“Both Alan and Colin are steeped in Cork City FC and have had highly successful playing careers, both here and further afield. Their experience, knowledge and passion for the club will be great additions to our first team coaching staff, and I know they will both be a huge help to John Cotter over the coming weeks.”
John Caulfield's departure came after a spate of bad results leaving them in eighth place on the table. Cork City drew at home against Finn Harps 1-1 on Monday night.
Speaking yesterday, he said: “It’s with great sadness that my time at a truly great club, that I’ve had the privilege to serve for over 20 years of my life, has come to an end. I have loved every goal, every game, every win and every trophy as a player and as a manager at Cork City FC. I have seen the club grow over the years and it was a pleasure to work with so many great players, coaches and people at the club.”
"I am so grateful to my family, my staff, in particular John Cotter, Liam Kearney, Lisa Fallon, Mick Punch and Phil Harrington. I thank Pat Lyons and the previous board for their support and would like to wish Declan Carey and the new board every success moving forward. To the supporters, there’s not a lot to say except thank you. Thank you for all the memories and all the great moments that we have shared. Your fantastic support has always meant so much to me."
He concluded: "There’s something truly special about Cork City FC and I thank you for letting me be part of it for so long, both as a player and manager. I’m looking forward to my next challenge but will never forget how much pleasure and epic memories the Rebel Army have given me. Thank you and continued success to this very special football club."
John Cotter, who has been on the coaching staff of the club since 2014, joined the club’s reserve team as a player under Cormac Cotter for the 1996-97 season, before stepping up to the first team in the 1997-98 season. Cotter had a successful playing career with Cork City and then Avondale United, which saw him win the FAI Cup and League Cup with City before moving into management, where he enjoyed great success with Avondale at both local and national level.