Cork City manager Tim Clancy on recruitment and keeping rising star Cathal O'Sullivan

Cork City manager Tim Clancy says that plans are well underway for next season with the club set to speak to the current group of players about who they want to retain.

The Rebel Army dominated the First Division this year but it will be a major challenge when they return to the top flight. Bringing Ruairí Keating and Seani Maguire back to the club recently showed their intent but more recruitment will be required.

The City boss confirmed that they're actively looking at targets for next season but admits it may be difficult to keep hold of Cathal O’Sullivan, their 17-year-old playmaker.

“Will be having conversations with lads about next year very soon. Obviously, there will be some that move on. There will be others that come in, but that is just the nature of football. 

"It’s the worst part as a manager especially when you have had success that you have to make that decision where certain players will have to leave the club and that other players come in, but it’s the nature of the beast. 

Some lads will want to leave because they will want to play more football next year. 

"Other lads get better moves, you just don’t know. It’s the way it is but we will certainly have the conversations with the lads. The club will be after going forward now, and we will get those conversations going.

COUNTRY TAX

"Looking at bringing players in; for us to get a player down that might be living at home in Dublin, there is a country tax on us. Sligo have the same thing. I’m sure Galway do, Derry City probably have the same thing as well. Players have so many options in Dublin from five, six or seven clubs, it is difficult to get players down from inside the league but I think there are also bargains to be had here as well, you just have to make sure you get the right ones.

“The UK market has served a lot of clubs in the League of Ireland well over the last number of years. If you look at Shels who got the boy Will Jarvis and Harry Wood, they have done well for Shelbourne the last couple of seasons so there is definitely a place for players in England coming over here and getting first-team experience. 

"The equivalent they are looking at is the Conference North or Conference South, or possibly the Conference, which I think the league here is a far better level than those levels. I think a lot of the teams in the Premier Division play good football, and it’s a young league. It’s not a case that the kids are going to get vollyed out of it so I think it’s a good league for development. 

The UK is definitely a market that we will be active in but we are also looking to get players in from inside the league that know it.

“We’ve looked at players that might be available from other clubs. It gives us a little head start the fact that we are promoted now and some of the Premier Division teams won’t know their situation until November where they finish in the league whether it is Europe or somewhere else. 

"The problem you can have is that when you are playing young lads and they are playing very good, you're going to lose them eventually. 

It will be very difficult to keep hold of Cathal O’Sullivan. I do believe that he is the standout kid in the country. 

"I know Mason Melia is doing well at Pat's, but I think Cathal is a different type of player. I think physically Cathal is very good and so is Mason, but I think technically, Cathal is streets ahead of any other young lad in the country. The benefit for us is he is a young player playing in the team but realistically opportunities will arise and we are just hoping that the club does well and the player benefits from it and that everyone is happy.”