Cian Coleman frustrated as Cork City don't renew his contract: 'The club means everything to me'

For the first time in 10 years, Cork City captain Cian Coleman finds himself on the outside looking in.

The centre-half who has been at the club for nine years in total is actively looking for a new team after City refused to offer him a new contract.

Hurt by the club’s refusal to offer him a new deal and leaving it late in letting him know, Coleman is happy that his performances for City have shown that he is ready and capable of playing at the top tier in Irish football.

Currently training on his own Coleman will listen to offers from all clubs.

Here he tells us about his disappointment, his experience with City and his hopes for the future.

"Overall I was happy with how my season went last season," said Coleman. "I went into the season just wanting to right the wrongs from the season before and put in good performances. 

As a team, we had one main goal and that was to win the league and in the end, we won it comfortably which capped off a good season.

"I think the fact that some of us had been in that position a couple of years before, helped. We knew what was needed to win the league. It was different this time being the standout favourite but I think we embraced that and knew in ourselves we had enough quality to win the league.

"In the First Division, it’s obviously a drop off of standard compared to the Premier Division, but we were the only full-time team in the league which we knew was a big advantage. 

"It was a matter of keeping the standards high in training day to day and once we transferred that onto the pitch on a Friday night we knew we would be a tough team to beat."

How different was it playing in front of a home crowd in the First Division?

"As a player playing in Turner's Cross whether it’s half-full or packed out, The Shed is always making noise and there is still a brilliant atmosphere there but I had a feeling that the attendance would be lower considering the season before and the fact that it was the First Division. 

Credit to the loyal fans, we still had nearly 2,000 at every home game which is still very good and the fans were great all season who turned up week in, week out and that definitely helped us on the pitch.

"Getting the club back playing in the top tier of football was the main goal like I said starting off the season, everyone in Cork and I think the country, knows how big a club it is and that you need a Cork City team in the Premier Division. 

"Personally, it was big for me because of how the season before went, and the fact I didn’t have a good season then I wanted to make sure I did everything I could for the club to get back up straight away."

Coleman was one of six Cork City players to make this season's First Division Team of the Year, along with Brad Wade, Charlie Lyons, Evan McLaughlin, Cathal O’Sullivan and Greg Bolger. 

KEY

Along with being in the heart of defence, Coleman managed to hit the net five times last season so again here he states his worth to his hometown club.

"I felt I contributed a lot as a player with the club. I lead as captain in many different positions and I believe I would be an asset to any club in the premier division, but just hurts it's not with Cork City."

So what does the club mean to the 27-year-old Hollyhill man?

"The club means everything to me. Being able to captain my hometown club has been a privilege and probably the highlight of my career. 

Am I disappointed not to have my contract renewed? Absolutely.

"My contract expired at the end of November and I haven’t been offered a contract from City so that changes things and gives me no choice really but to move on. 

"My preference would have been to stay at the club but it’s out of my control. I’m not sure where the next part of my career will take me but I want to be playing at the highest level in this country if possible."