5th Novermber 2013
By TheCork.ie
news@thecork.ie
Cork City Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of John Caulfield as the club’s first team manager.
Caulfield, who is the club’s joint-record goal scorer and also holds the club record for appearances, has signed a two year deal with the club. Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie on the announcement, Chairman Mick Ring said:
“We are delighted to announce John as the man to lead Cork City FC into 2014. Holding the record for all-time appearances for the club, coupled with his record as joint-top goal scorer, has given John a deep perspective into the workings of the club. Since retiring from his playing career, John has been inducted into our Hall of Fame, and has been virtually ever-present at Turner’s Cross. In short, John Caulfield is a Cork City legend.”
“At the outset of the recruitment process, we were blown away by the calibre of candidate who put themselves forward for the position. We are very grateful to each of them for showing an interest, but John demonstrated knowledge, passion for the club and hunger to succeed to such an extent that it made him the standout candidate.”
“That aside, John’s managerial career has gone from strength to strength, and we believe the combination of his knowledge, drive and passion will propel us to new heights in 2014. I am looking forward to working closely with John over the coming months, to build a winning squad, worthy to wear the Cork City FC jersey.”
Caulfield, who will be officially unveiled tomorrow afternoon, said he cannot wait to get started in the job:
“I have always been very passionate about the club. I am delighted that FORAS have given me this opportunity and I am certainly looking forward to working very hard and hopefully bringing good days back to the club.”
Turning to the matter of the squad for next season, the incoming manager said he would seek to speak to the players who are currently out of contract. “The most urgent thing is to talk to the players that were at the club last season and tie up the players that we can. I want a base of good, strong local players. We have a very good Under 19 set-up so we will look to promote players from within, and obviously attract players from the county and the province.”
Looking to the season ahead and his aims for 2014, John was upbeat about his side’s chances and said he wants to make Turner’s Cross a fortress once again:
“My targets are very positive. We finished sixth in the last two seasons and I feel that we can get higher. The potential at this club is fantastic and I really want to see if we can get the crowds back in and make Turner’s Cross a fortress again. I want us to be really competitive, have a passionate team and when people come in the gates at the ‘Cross, see that these guys really want to do it for City.”
“I want all of the people from West Cork, North Cork, East Cork, all around the county and the city too, to rally around and come back. We want to get back the support we have lost, the people who have stopped coming to games, because we all know that Turner’s Cross, with 3,500 or 4,000 or 5,000 people in it, is a fantastic place to be. We’ve had fantastic occasions there and there haven’t been enough of those this season.”