Cobh Ramblers announce the arrival of Gary Hunt as new manager

COBH Ramblers have announced the appointment of Gary Hunt as their new manager.

The former Waterford FC assistant manager worked as caretaker for the club in 2022 between Ian Morris and Danny Searle's spells in charge of the club.

In 2023, Hunt was a first team coach and helped the Blues to secure promotion to the Premier Division for 2024.

Hunt's backroom staff are set to be confirmed in the coming days.

“After speaking to the club I was impressed at the progress Cobh has made both on and off the pitch, especially the development of St Colman’s Park," says new manager Gary Hunt. "I have had an excellent few seasons with Waterford and although it was a difficult decision to make following promotion, my own personal ambition is to become a head coach.

I am excited with the challenge this brings and I am looking forward to working hard alongside the club, the fans, the board, the volunteers and the players and the staff to help Cobh Ramblers be competitive in the First Division for the 2024 season.

The club have also today confirmed that works on a brand new astroturf pitch to replace the grass surface at St Colman’s Park have commenced.

The new upgrades mean that St Colman’s Park will not be ready in time for the new season, and so the club have come to an agreement with Cork City FC, the Munster FA and the League of Ireland, to confirm that they will play some of their early home games at Turner’s Cross for the 2024 season.

Along with the introduction of an astroturf, the upgrades will include LED floodlighting and a new pitch surround.

The news of the redevelopment and managerial appointment are hugely positive for Cobh Ramblers, coming at a time when the club having recently been hit with three heavy losses.

POACHING

Last week, manager Shane Keegan left his role due to work commitments with Laois GAA, while star players Jack Doherty and Charlie Lyons have both been swiped by neighbouring rivals Cork City in the last two days.

Cork City hinted at three new signings before announcing Jack Doherty on Tuesday, and then confirmed the capture of Charlie Lyons on Wednesday. 

Lyons is the second in what will likely be a long list of Ramblers’ outgoings over the course of the next month, but the redevelopments at St Colman’s Park and the capture of Gary Hunt are positive changes and will no doubt benefit Ramblers financially in the long-term.

“This timely and very positive development makes total operational, financial, and strategic sense for the club,” says Cobh Ramblers chairperson, Bill O’Leary. “It saves us money, facilitates our growth in terms of playing numbers, opens our facility to the community and will allow our teams to play football the way we like to play it.

“I would like to express sincere thanks to all of the board and volunteers, the Government, Sinead Sheppard and the local council, Minister Simon Coveney, James O’Connor TD, Doyle Shipping Group, Port of Cork, Alan Bardsley and Cunneen Premier Locksmiths for supporting this development.

“We would also like to thank the football Association of Ireland and Clann Credo who have been integral in ensuring we were able to proceed with the project”.

“Cobh Ramblers has a longstanding and proud history and in looking to the future, I am delighted to see facilities being put in place, which will facilitate the growth of the club,” says Thomas Byrne, TD. “As Sports Minister, I am determined to see sustained investment in our sporting facilities, and I am glad that my department supported this project under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.

“I was delighted to recently meet with members of Cobh Ramblers, and I want to commend everyone involved in this project and wish the club every success for the future.” 

“The beginning of the project work in St Colman’s Park represents another important step in the club’s history,” says Mark Farrell, a member of the Cobh Ramblers FC Board. “It comes on the back of a lot of hard work by so many brilliant volunteers.

“Having seen the benefits of the Stephen Ireland Astro Turf at Old Church Park in the increased contact time for kids and adults alike, these works at Cobh Ramblers will only serve to further increase contact time for players and ultimately lead to better levels of skill and performances for the teams in the town as well as making for a better match experience for fans and players alike”.

“Cobh Municipal Council are delighted to play a part in the upgrade of St Colman’s Park grounds,” says Cllr. Sinead Sheppard. “The funding allocated by the Cobh Municipal Council towards ongoing works recognises the wonderful facility and Club we have here in Cobh”.

“I am delighted to see the progress that the club continue to make both on and off the field and this development will help provide state of the art facilities for the club and all their players,” says Cllr. Cathal Rasmussen.

“I commend the club and its officials for taking this huge step and as a local councillor I am delighted that Cork County Council continues to support the club.”