Graham Cummins: Cork City fans expect Tim Clancy to win the league and do it in style
Newly-appointed Cork City head coach Tim Clancy stand for a portrait after a press conference at Turner's Cross in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
IS NEW manager Tim Clancy on a hiding-to-nothing with Cork City next season?
The new City manager has outlined that he aims to win the First Division with the club but would that really be a major achievement? Unlike two years ago when some City fans would have questioned whether the Rebel Army were good enough to beat Galway or Waterford for the title, I think this season every City supporter expects them to win the league and do so at a canter.
So what can Clancy do to enhance his managerial reputation as a manager as it seems a given that City will win the First Division next season?
I think City fans would love to see their side win the title by playing an attractive style of football.
Even two seasons ago when they won the division, I still don’t think the style of football they were playing at the time was anything to really excite the supporters.
It’s been quite some time since City was known as an exciting team to watch and one that plays possession-based football.
There was a brief period when Liam Buckley took temporary charge of the side that the team played out from the back, with the full-backs playing high up the pitch but that was temporary and City fans have been starved for years of free-flowing entertaining football.
Even when the club was successful under John Caulfield, some supporters complained that the brand of football the team played was not entertaining.
Of course, the priority will be for Clancy to win the title but he cannot ignore that supporters will expect it to be done so in an entertaining manner.
I do feel Clancy already has credit in the bank with Cork City fans. His appointment was met with much approval from the supporters at a time when they needed something to be excited about.
Last week’s fixtures announcement was just another reminder to fans that their club was playing in the lower tier of the league.
Instead of facing teams like Shamrock Rovers and Derry City, they will be coming up against Wexford and Kerry FC.
Yes, there will be the Cork derbies but other than their four clashes with Cobh Ramblers many of the matches this season should be routine and just about ticking a box that it’s another game less for the Rebel Army in Ireland’s lower tier.
However, the fact that City are playing in a much weaker league against inferior teams wouldn’t make the players work any less during the off-season than they would if they were competing against the very best.
With a new manager in charge, players will be keen to impress from the off. They know they can’t afford to return to pre-season training out of shape and make a poor first impression.
You don’t want to be that player who is last in the testing when they return because it will create doubts in the manager’s mind not only about their fitness but also their mentality.
I know if I were a new manager at a club, and had made it clear through the media that I intended to win the league and a player decided to 'enjoy' their Christmas rather than be disciplined, I would be questioning whether that player was the right fit for a side wanting to be the very best in their division.
Having several new faces arrive at the club should motivate the established players. There could have been a relegation hangover for some of the City players. They might have felt sorry for themselves having to be back playing in the First Division.
Of course, it’s great for a team to see new faces come in the door to give the side a better chance of success but it’s also worrying for the established players that those new faces could potentially take their place in the starting 11.
Between competition and trying to impress the new manager, I expect the players to be working extra hard over the festive period as they will want to hit the ground running when they return to training in the New Year.
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