Ashton stokes the flames at Cork City

It was the summer of 1984, and like so many others Stuart Ashton was a young and out of contract player in England, trying to decide on his next move. Such decisions can often shape a footballer’s life, and that was to be the case when Ashton got a phone call from a footballing legend.

“The manager at the time was Bobby Tambling and he phoned and he said 'We’re Cork, in the League of Ireland,' and he sold it to me.”

Cork City Football Club were about to embark on their first season in the League of Ireland and Tambling, Chelsea’s top scorer up until last season (when Frank Lampard overtook him), was the club's first manager. He was assembling a squad for the new season, and was looking to supplement his mostly-local team with some players from across the water.

As one of three professionals signed by Tambling (with David Bleasdale and Bobby Woodruff also making the move), Ashton admits that having spoken to the then Cork City manager, and having seen what the club had to offer, it was an easy decision to make. “I came over, I spent a week having a look around, training etc. I enjoyed it, I liked what I saw and the rest was history.” He has never left.

Ashton went on to be an ever-present in Cork City’s defence in that first season. Fast forward 29 years and, via a star performance managing the club's youth team, he has embarked on a new challenge at the club – this time taking control of the first team (albeit in a caretaker capacity).

Having lost to Limerick 2-1 in Thomond Park, the Cork City board decided to part ways with manager Tommy Dunne and City’s then U19 manager was handed the reins on a week to week contract.

If his first week was anything to go by, Ashton was in for a rollercoaster ride with City playing three games in five days. “The first week was obviously hectic because of the schedule and, for want of a better expression, the job thrown at me with the circumstances.

“As you know it was just Saturday morning and we had the game then on Monday so it was straight into it with no time to think about it. From that point of view, it was probably good in the sense that we didn’t have time to think about it and you do what you enjoy doing, and that’s coaching and getting the lads playing."

It was to be a winning start for Ashton against Kilbarrack in the FAI Cup, and after welcoming Shane Long’s West Brom to Turner’s Cross 24 hours later, the impressive performances continued with wins in the ‘relegation six pointers’ against Bohemians and Bray Wanderers.

“Obviously it makes it easier when you win the first game as well – that took a bit of pressure off. So from that point of view I was delighted with the start and enjoying it.”

Ashton wasn’t surprised though and was quick to downplay such whispers of relegation. “As a manager it’s what you expect anyway from the lads, and I can’t fault the lads in any of the games that we played. The media were building them up to be six pointers because of the circumstances before those games, but I think it just needed calming down a bit.

“The lads and myself chatted about it and we felt that if we had lost those games, we weren’t in the crisis which was being portrayed. Because of the sacking of the manager beforehand and me coming in, there were talks of crises and everything.

“We just had to settle down and do the job that was in hand. But we didn’t feel it was a crisis situation and from that point of view I think it relaxed the lads and, as I said, they gave 100% and we got what we deserved in those games.”

Ashton’s new role came with added complications, taking charge mere days after both the departure of a four players and the transfer window slamming shut.

This forced Cork City to think outside the box and former Leeside favourite Liam Kearney came in and played in the friendly against West Brom. Not for the first time in their history however, the club’s efforts to sign a player were thwarted by FIFA regulations and the deal fell through.

This time, Ashton explained, the issue arose because of the Conna Maradonna’s amateur status down under. “He played in Australia and he was an amateur there, which meant that the deadline had already gone about a month ago or so.

“With the deadline to sign amateur players gone, he had to be an out-of-contract professional and because he was an amateur he didn’t qualify for that status. That was the glitch, which obviously Liam was gutted with, and obviously ourselves too. Unfortunately it didn’t work out.”

With time running out and days to go in the transfer window in the UK, Ashton concedes that the squad he has now will more than likely be the one that finishes the season.

“We have a few stokes in the fire and the problem we have is the contacts we have in England are looking at players, but even though they are out of work professionals they still want to play in England so they are hoping that they are going to get a deal in England still.

“Unfortunately at the moment, the fellas we have been talking to have taken a chance to stay in England. Whether they get a club or not, we won’t know until the deadline is done with. At the moment it’s looking as if we’re going to be with the squad we have, but, we still have the spies out.”

Although new signings look less likely by the day, Ashton still believes that the club’s position in the league table belies the quality that is present in the squad. Injuries and suspensions have taken their toll, but this is no excuse for the interim manager for whom this is just one of the facts of the game.

One area where the Rebel Army have failed to obtain any considerable consistency this season has been in defence. Club captain Kevin Murray is a long term absentee with a groin injury, while fellow centre-half Darren Dennehy is out with a foot injury. Both players are currently on the road to recovery, but with only eight games left Ashton is pragmatic about the chances of either featuring much in the run-in.

“They’re on the road to recovery, but they’re still weeks away from being fit and then they’re another number of weeks from being match fit. So they’re still long term injuries.

“Hopefully, they might get games at the end of the season but as you know, they can get setbacks on the way. Hopefully that doesn’t happen to either of them and we can get a game or two at the end of the season for those guys.”

As the conversation moves on to the end of the season and beyond, Ashton is focussed and has clear targets for Cork City.

First up is the visit of Derry City. He expects the Candystripes will come “with their own brand of football” and predicts an attractive game, but hopes his side can “stamp their authority on the game with their own style” that he’s trying to get the team to play.

Not content with a top half finish, it is quickly noted that the Leesiders have Shamrock Rovers in their cross-hairs. The Hoops are currently only six points ahead, and with the sides meeting next weekend, Ashton is plotting on overtaking the Tallaght side.

However, further down the line, and not for the first time in his brief tenure, the situation again becomes complicated for Ashton. As manager of the Cork City under 19 team, Ashton has his UEFA A badge. Unfortunately for him though, ill-thought-out regulations dictate that he requires a UEFA Pro Licence to sit as a manager at the top table of domestic football.

Like Owen Heary at Bohemians, this means that Cork City can only have Stuart Ashton as caretaker manager for a maximum of sixty days – a period that will expire on the 2^ndOctober with four games still to go in the league season.

Both managers would be allowed to continue in their current roles should they begin a ‘UEFA Pro Licence’ course, but unfortunately for them there is none scheduled to take place.

“It's a case of sixty days and then the club has to look at it again and see what the situation is. My position is a temporary one, it’s week to week, obviously we’re off to a flyer so to speak but again who knows what next week is. If the club feel that there’s a candidate there, well obviously we sit down and I go back to my job as the 19s manager.”

From a personal viewpoint Ashton has enjoyed his time as first team manager and a more permanent arrangement that sees Ashton remain in charge at Turner’s Cross is something he admits he would like.

“Obviously when you’re in coaching, at whatever level it’s at, you obviously aspire to be at the top of the tree, whatever club you’re with and whatever league you’re in.

“From that point of view I’d be no different but having said that my job is the 19s manager. From day one it was a case of that I would just step in because of the situation and it’s week to week.

“Knowing the club as it is and the big status that it has as one of the top club’s in the country, from that point of view I presume that a lot of applications have already gone in for the job. I’m the caretaker boss and we’ll see what happens”

Despite being pressed, the adopted Corkonian remains coy on the situation and is understanding of his brief.

“It’s the highest level in Ireland, and you want to challenge yourself against the top managers in the country and the top teams in the country. I feel we are one of the top teams in a wrong position at the moment and my aim is to get them back as high as they can up the league and we’ll take it week by week from my point of view.”

Whether he remains at the top job, or reverts back to manager of the much celebrated under 19 side, it is clear that Ashton’s future is at the club. The last two years has seen his U19 side win two domestic doubles, the fruits of which are further evident with the emergence of young talent into the first team.

Last Saturday’s FAI Cup defeat at Sligo Rovers brought about Cork City’s exit from the competition, but of the 18 that travelled on the night 12 had come through the underage structure. This is, understandably, makes Ashton proud and it is somewhat a rarity in a league that is often known for its carousel-type transfers.

It could be argued that, perhaps, Ashton is best placed to oversee the transition of these exciting young players to the first team but whether he is promoted to the first team manager’s gig on a permanent basis remains to be seen.

If he doesn’t, you get the sense that Ashton takes great satisfaction from the work he does with the underage set-up. As he talks proudly about the likes of Danny Morrissey, John Kavanagh and co, he is equally confident of the ability and the potential they possess and the knowing of the hard work that still lies ahead of them. 

The belief he has in his players is unwavering, and as one first team player told me recently this belief is reciprocated ten-fold.

Out of curiosity, it must be asked what kept Ashton on Leeside for almost 30 years? A woman, unsurprisingly. “When I came over, for want of a better expression, I was a kid playing football. I enjoyed the football over here, and then I met my wife here and the rest is history.”

And so, it all begins to make sense.

One can’t help but wonder though, if a Cork woman helped keep Stuart Ashton in Cork and if rumours of another Cork woman allegedly persuading Daryl Horgan to turn his loan move into a permanent one – maybe Cork City chairman Mick Ring should focus his efforts on compiling a list of potential suitors to try and persuade on-fire loanee Ciarán Kilduff to stay past the end of the season.