Cork City FC confirm six departures including goalkeeper Brad Wade

Cork City have announced that they have released six players ahead of their return to the League of Ireland Premier Division.

City cruised to the First Division title in 2024 to secure a return to the top flight of Irish football in 2025.

The swift nature of their league winning campaign provided them with ample opportunity to plan ahead of next season, in which they will be hoping to re-establish themselves as a top side.

The Rebel Army re-signed strikers Ruairi Keating and Seani Maguire to add to their fire power and they have now confirmed that six players will not be returning to club in the New Year.

The most notable names include goalkeeper Brad Wade, who had become something of a fan favourite throughout the year, and Jack Doherty, who scored a number of goals since joining from Cobh Ramblers.

Also included on the list are Cian Murphy and Cian Bargary, who progressed through the club's underage sides but have struggled in recent times due to persisting injuries, while John O'Donovan and Aidan Dowling also will not being seeing their contracts renewed.

"Cork City FC can confirm that the following players will depart the club following the expiry of their contracts: Brad Wade, Jack Doherty, Cian Murphy, ⁠⁠Cian Bargary, John O’Donovan and⁠ ⁠⁠Aidan Dowling," the club posted on social media.

"We thank all six players for their contribution to the club, and wish them the very best of luck for the future."

City manager Tim Clancy added: “We would like to thank all of the lads and wish them the very best of luck for their future careers.

"In particular, we acknowledge the two Cians and John, who all came through our academy and have been with the club for a number of years.” 

Meanwhile, a hefty €2m grant in abeyance since the abandonment of the Glanmire Centre of Excellence will remain in Cork football.

That vow was pledged by Minister for Sport Thomas Byrne, confirming he’s awaiting a proposal from the FAI on an alternative project.

As revealed by the Irish Examiner last year, the FAI shelved the planned €12m centre in Glanmire.

It was to act as a hub for the game in Munster, with Cork City as anchor tenant.

The project, according to the new FAI board, “no longer represented the greatest return on investment for the parties involved".

Football benefitted to the tune of €53m from Monday's Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) but it should be noted that neither project awarded seven-figure sums in the last round have proceeded.

Glanmire, granted €2,025,699 in 2019, was reconsidered after the FAI financial crisis, while efforts by Finn Harps to fundraise their portion of €1.5m to match the €5.8m of grants for a new stadium are ongoing.

It’s understood various other options have been explored in the Cork area, from the expansion of Turner’s Cross to collaborating with University College Cork for sports campus space.

Byrne introduced a “use it or lose it” clause in this latest set of stadia grants to discourage delays but insisted the Glanmire money is protected.

“I’ve asked the FAI to work on that one, to make sure we can use the money for football in Munster and in Cork,” said the Minister, standing in the upcoming election, likely November 29.

“There are proposals, I believe, coming to the Department, relating to the Glanmire project.

“That money is there, not subject to the use it or lose it policy, and I’m very much telling the FAI that.

“In fairness they have responded and are coming to us. We want to see that money invested into football in Cork because that’s where it went.”