The Promotion Predicament
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Five games to go and five points behind, a quick rebound back into the Premier Division is still possible for Cork City. But is that what they really want? Is an immediate return to the top table a positive step or too much too soon?
Back in the spring, with the club quickly pieced together, newly appointed manager Tommy Dunne, sided by Chairman John O’Sullivan and the division’s shoe-in for golden boot Graham Cummins, proclaimed that a mid-table finish would be a success.
Well, the Leesiders have guaranteed that with games to spare and the impressive financial footing the club find themselves compared to only a short time ago, means this year has definitely been a resounding success.
Granted, there hasn’t been much scintillating football, particularly at home where they’ve struggled to eke out results, but what do you expect in the First Division?
A host of players came in from local Munster Senior League clubs but issues down to ‘commitment,’ as Dunne put it, saw all but Eoghan Lougheed and Billy Woods fail to make an impact.
These sort of problems are easier rectified in the First Division than the Premier because the turnaround of players is notoriously higher than your average Premier club. Plus, if that was to happen at the top table, Cork would find themselves propping up the table and in a sorry state of affairs on the pitch.
That is why this season is just too soon to see them move back up to where they really belong.
For the fans (the fact that the club is owned by them is not lost on me at this point) promotion is always the aim. However, baby steps are needed before they can really make the move upstairs.
The players, of course, want the chance to compete at a higher level. But sadly, at least half of those that take to the field at Turner’s Cross aren’t up to scratch to form a solid unit which would compete in the top tier.
Anything up to ten new players of a higher standard would be required to last an arduous campaign in the Premier Division. And at the moment, Cork need a better quality of player to sustain that.
Those heavily involved with the club will admit that the goal at the beginning of the campaign was never to be promoted: that was just a distant dream if everything went their way. Instead, the ambition was to go through the year with an average finish in the league and a healthy bank balance in the future. That has been easily obtained by a smart budget, which will give the club a chance to prosper in the future.
Afterall, a football club should be a long-term investment, not a short one.
When Pat Dolan was in the dugout at Turner’s Cross in the last decade, he introduced a three year plan. Which, those of you who were supporters back then would know, worked a treat as City, and admittedly after Dolan left the job for Damien Richardson to finish off, moved gradually up the table from 3rd to 2nd to 1st in consecutive seasons.
Something like that must surely be implemented now for the short-term future of the club. Part one of the plan (to remain financially steady) has been completed, so part two must now be to gain promotion either next season or in two years time.
It just appears to be a little out of their grasp this term.
Back in the spring, with the club quickly pieced together, newly appointed manager Tommy Dunne, sided by Chairman John O’Sullivan and the division’s shoe-in for golden boot Graham Cummins, proclaimed that a mid-table finish would be a success.
Well, the Leesiders have guaranteed that with games to spare and the impressive financial footing the club find themselves compared to only a short time ago, means this year has definitely been a resounding success.
Granted, there hasn’t been much scintillating football, particularly at home where they’ve struggled to eke out results, but what do you expect in the First Division?
A host of players came in from local Munster Senior League clubs but issues down to ‘commitment,’ as Dunne put it, saw all but Eoghan Lougheed and Billy Woods fail to make an impact.
These sort of problems are easier rectified in the First Division than the Premier because the turnaround of players is notoriously higher than your average Premier club. Plus, if that was to happen at the top table, Cork would find themselves propping up the table and in a sorry state of affairs on the pitch.
That is why this season is just too soon to see them move back up to where they really belong.
For the fans (the fact that the club is owned by them is not lost on me at this point) promotion is always the aim. However, baby steps are needed before they can really make the move upstairs.
The players, of course, want the chance to compete at a higher level. But sadly, at least half of those that take to the field at Turner’s Cross aren’t up to scratch to form a solid unit which would compete in the top tier.
Anything up to ten new players of a higher standard would be required to last an arduous campaign in the Premier Division. And at the moment, Cork need a better quality of player to sustain that.
Those heavily involved with the club will admit that the goal at the beginning of the campaign was never to be promoted: that was just a distant dream if everything went their way. Instead, the ambition was to go through the year with an average finish in the league and a healthy bank balance in the future. That has been easily obtained by a smart budget, which will give the club a chance to prosper in the future.
Afterall, a football club should be a long-term investment, not a short one.
When Pat Dolan was in the dugout at Turner’s Cross in the last decade, he introduced a three year plan. Which, those of you who were supporters back then would know, worked a treat as City, and admittedly after Dolan left the job for Damien Richardson to finish off, moved gradually up the table from 3rd to 2nd to 1st in consecutive seasons.
Something like that must surely be implemented now for the short-term future of the club. Part one of the plan (to remain financially steady) has been completed, so part two must now be to gain promotion either next season or in two years time.
It just appears to be a little out of their grasp this term.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile