Update: Cork City working on sorting loan players before season resumes in July

CORK City are hopeful of securing Joseph Olowu and Deshane Dalling on new loan deals for the restart of the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland season.

Action is set to resume on July 31, with City hosting Bohemians at Turner’s Cross. Earlier in the campaign, Olowu and Dalling were among four loan signings for Fenn’s team. 

However, right-back Kyron Stabana, who was on loan from AFC Wimbledon, is hoping to find a new club in England after leaving the Dons while Dubliner Joe Redmond, who partnered Olowu in central defence, is likely to return to Birmingham City.

Fenn confirmed that moves were afoot to tie down two of the loan players. While he couldn’t name them, it’s believed that Olowu (below) of Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers’ Dalling are the two.

“We’re hoping that two of the loan players will be making a return,” he said.

“We’re delighted with that and a big thank-you to the clubs for allowing them to come back. It’s brilliant, it’s a great relief.

“We’ll build it up from Monday, a few in-house games before the end of the week and then a few friendlies before the season starts.” 

City returned to light training on Tuesday of this week, with intensity set to be ramped up next week. As one of four Irish clubs qualified for Europe, Bohs have been back longer and Fenn is keen to make up that disparity.

“We’re still not sure if it will be July 31 but we couldn’t hold on any longer,” he said.

“We had planned to come back on June 29 because we were told it [resumption of the league] was August 14 but then we were told it could be July 31 and we couldn’t wait any longer, we couldn’t risk being left behind.

“Our first game, we think, is going to be against Bohs, who are back a month already. We couldn’t be hanging around waiting for other people to make decisions for us, we just had to get going.

“It’s ideal preparation, with the short notice we’ve had. The boys are fit enough, it’s about making sure they don’t break down with injuries.”