Woods becomes assistant at Cork
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Billy Woods, who made his debut for Cork City seventeen years ago back in 1993, will become the Leeside club’s first team coach for the new season, the club confirmed this evening.
Having made 14 appearances as a player for City last season, Woods, after also returning to full-time education earlier this year, will become Tommy Dunne’s right-hand man when the side returns to pre-season training on Janurary 15th.
“I have had an interest in getting into coaching for some time,” Woods said earlier today after being appointed. “I am currently doing my UEFA ‘B’ Licence, and will be finishing that in April. A position as a first team coach was one of the goals I had set myself, so it is a fantastic opportunity for me and I am delighted to have the chance to continue my career with Cork City.
“Obviously I know a lot of the players very well, and I believe I have a lot of experience of the league to offer. It is also a great opportunity for me to work alongside Tommy on the coaching side. He has great experience of the league and he is a brilliant coach, so I am really looking forward to working with him and learning from him.”
After confirming the post, Dunne, who had appointed Greg O’Halloran to a similar position last season before his playing duties became number one priority, said: “I have known Billy for several years, having played alongside him at Shamrock Rovers. He knows the club extremely well, and he also possesses a wealth of experience of the league.
“It is great to see young, enthusiastic people who want to get involved in the coaching side of things. In the past I have spoken about the importance of the club signing the best young, local talent that is available to us, but I also believe it is just as important that we retain the expertise of people like Billy, who has contributed so much to the club as a player, so that he can continue to contribute as a coach.”
Woods had returned to University College Cork in September to study full-time, but the opportunity to coach at the club he spent so much of his career was an offer he just couldn’t turn down, and Dunne believes he could one day be the number one man in the dugout at Turner’s Cross.
“Billy is currently doing the UEFA ‘B’ licence and will be enrolling on the course to do his ‘A’ licence in the coming year, and I believe that he has the potential to manage Cork City in the future. The fact that Billy has also played alongside many of the players in our squad as recently as last season also means that he knows them well and will be in an excellent position to encourage and advise them.”
Meanwhile, in other news surrounding the club, it is expected that former left-back Danny Murphy looks likely to return to the club on a two year deal after he parted company with Shamrock Rovers. Michael O’Neill confirmed this morning that Murphy has been released and it looks likely that the ‘Cockney Rebel’ could return to the club that first gave him his break in Irish football, leading to a league title in 2005 amongst other honours.
Having made 14 appearances as a player for City last season, Woods, after also returning to full-time education earlier this year, will become Tommy Dunne’s right-hand man when the side returns to pre-season training on Janurary 15th.
“I have had an interest in getting into coaching for some time,” Woods said earlier today after being appointed. “I am currently doing my UEFA ‘B’ Licence, and will be finishing that in April. A position as a first team coach was one of the goals I had set myself, so it is a fantastic opportunity for me and I am delighted to have the chance to continue my career with Cork City.
“Obviously I know a lot of the players very well, and I believe I have a lot of experience of the league to offer. It is also a great opportunity for me to work alongside Tommy on the coaching side. He has great experience of the league and he is a brilliant coach, so I am really looking forward to working with him and learning from him.”
After confirming the post, Dunne, who had appointed Greg O’Halloran to a similar position last season before his playing duties became number one priority, said: “I have known Billy for several years, having played alongside him at Shamrock Rovers. He knows the club extremely well, and he also possesses a wealth of experience of the league.
“It is great to see young, enthusiastic people who want to get involved in the coaching side of things. In the past I have spoken about the importance of the club signing the best young, local talent that is available to us, but I also believe it is just as important that we retain the expertise of people like Billy, who has contributed so much to the club as a player, so that he can continue to contribute as a coach.”
Woods had returned to University College Cork in September to study full-time, but the opportunity to coach at the club he spent so much of his career was an offer he just couldn’t turn down, and Dunne believes he could one day be the number one man in the dugout at Turner’s Cross.
“Billy is currently doing the UEFA ‘B’ licence and will be enrolling on the course to do his ‘A’ licence in the coming year, and I believe that he has the potential to manage Cork City in the future. The fact that Billy has also played alongside many of the players in our squad as recently as last season also means that he knows them well and will be in an excellent position to encourage and advise them.”
Meanwhile, in other news surrounding the club, it is expected that former left-back Danny Murphy looks likely to return to the club on a two year deal after he parted company with Shamrock Rovers. Michael O’Neill confirmed this morning that Murphy has been released and it looks likely that the ‘Cockney Rebel’ could return to the club that first gave him his break in Irish football, leading to a league title in 2005 amongst other honours.
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