Tim Clancy appointed as Cork City manager while Liam Buckley departs sporting director role
Former Drogheda United and St Patrick's Athletic manager Tim Clancy has taken the reins at Cork City
Liam Buckley left his role as Cork City Sporting Director
Tim Clancy has been tasked with leading Cork City back to the Premier Division after being appointed head coach of the club this evening.
But just over an hour after Clancy's arrival was announced, Cork City have also confirmed that Liam Buckley has now left his role as Sporting Director of the club.
Buckley, a two-time Premier Division winning manager, took the post last May with a brief which focused on player recruitment and supporting the club’s management on all football-related matters.
But just after confirming Clancy's arrival, Cork City say that following recent internal discussions, Buckley has departed the club with immediate effect after just six months in the role.
Liam Buckley left his role as Cork City Sporting Director
It’s Clancy’s first managerial appointment since departing St Patrick’s Athletic last May and he will look to take the Leesiders back to the top-flight after a hugely disappointing 2023 at Turner's Cross.
After leading the club to the First Division title 12 months ago, Colin Healy resigned as Cork boss last May with the club second from bottom, as former Sporting Director Buckley led a caretaker management team thereafter.
But results failed to improve and despite assistant Richie Holland being installed as head coach in September, in a bid to keep Cork up ahead of the final stretch of the season, the club finished ninth before losing the promotion/relegation play-off to Waterford earlier this month, condemning them to relegation.
Clancy, who also guided Drogheda to the First Division title in 2020, led the Saints to fourth place and Europe in 2021, as well as memorable victories over Mura and CSKA Sofia in Europa Conference League qualifying last year.
While key striker Ruairi Keating and centre-half Josh Honohan have left the club this month, Trim native Clancy admits the opportunity to take the reins at Turner’s Cross was an opportunity too good to turn down, and is eyeing a straight return to the top-flight.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Cork City and cannot wait to get started. Since speaking to everyone at Cork City, this is an opportunity that I could not pass up and I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” said Clancy upon the announcement.
“I know that the fans and the people at the club are hurting right now after the season just gone, but this club is one of the biggest in the country and there is huge potential here.
"The opportunity is there to galvanise everyone at the club and get everyone working together to fight for a return to the Premier Division at the first attempt.
“We want to put a Cork City team out on the pitch that will entertain the supporters and challenge at the top of the table.
"The support at Turner’s Cross last season was incredible despite a difficult season, so we want to give them something to shout about in 2024.”
Cork City owner Dermot Usher added that he'll do everything he can to get the club back to the Premier Division.
He said: “We are delighted to announce Tim as our new men’s first team Head Coach. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and depth of experience at an important time for our club.
“Tim is an experienced manager and knows what it takes to gain promotion out of the First Division. He has a very good working knowledge of the players in both divisions in this league.
“Everyone connected with Cork City found the end to last season hard to take, but we must move forward together for the benefit of the club.
"Our supporters have been incredible throughout recent seasons, and will dig deep again to play their part in getting City back to where it belongs. My commitment is to do everything I can - as owner - to help with that fight back.
“Our key priority is to put together a competitive squad for the forthcoming season, and we expect to make further announcements regarding player signings over the coming days.”
