Ger Nash: 'We've a lot of people in there that care about Cork City... and we are sick of losing'
Frustration for Cork City fans after another defeat last weekend. Picture: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Cork City manager Ger Nash cut a dejected figure after Friday night’s defeat to Waterford at the RSC, a result that further deepens the club’s relegation worries and continues their winless away run this season.
City have now lost six successive games on the road and remain rooted to the bottom of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division, five points adrift with 12 games to play.
Speaking after the full-time whistle, Nash was open and honest about the mood in the dressing room and the scale of the challenge his side now faces in their bid to escape the drop.
“We are devastated. The dressing room is devastated,” Nash admitted. “We’re gutted about that. Everyone in that dressing room feels it. But we have to respond.”
City were competitive in the early stages at the RSC and created a couple of half-chances, particularly through Fiacre Kelleher and Malik Dijksteel. The visitors were positive in their approach, starting on the front foot, but, as has been the recurring story of the season, a defensive mistake gifted the home side the opening goal.
Nash was left to rue those fine margins again, as City failed to make their early pressure count and were punished at the other end.
“We created chances. Football is about fine margins. If we take one of those early ones, maybe the whole night plays out differently,” Nash said.
“John Coleman said it to me after the game. But it’s 'ifs and buts' isn’t it? We didn't score and obviously they scored and got one, and it's really difficult to take because we have got a dressing room that is dejected.
"We have got a lot of people in there that care about the club. And we are sick of losing. It's one game in 22 that this club have won. It's a huge issue for us. We have 12 games to go. It is a third of the season for us.”
It was an honest admission, and one that reflects the growing anxiety around the club. With supporters growing increasingly frustrated and pressure mounting, Nash acknowledged the weight of the situation but also reaffirmed his belief in the players’ effort and commitment.
“It’s sickening because we’ve got a dressing room full of people who care deeply about this club. We are absolutely sick of losing.
For Nash, however, the effort of the players is not in question. He praised the squad’s attitude and determination but recognised that belief is starting to waver, and that time is running out to start converting effort into points.
“The group of players are fighting. They’re hurting. I see it every day. I see how much they care,” Nash said. “But we have to find a way to flip this, to generate momentum. That comes through hard work. We are devastated, absolutely devastated. It's fine margins because we created enough chances that with better finishing we would have won the game.”
One talking point post-match was the reaction of the travelling fans, many of whom made their frustrations known at the final whistle. There was even an incident where a supporter appeared to make his way onto the pitch in protest. Nash said he fully understood the fans' emotions.
“It’s completely understandable,” Nash said. “When fans travel, spend their money, and then we don’t win, they’re entitled to be frustrated. We’ve won one game in 22. That’s the fact. And supporters feel that pain more than anyone.
“They’ve been brilliant since I came to the club. Their passion is incredible. And I want to say this: we are fighting. The players care. I can promise them that. They’re hugely dejected.
Looking ahead to next week’s FAI Cup tie against Leinster Senior League side Leicester Celtic, Nash insisted that the game will be treated with full focus and dismissed the idea of rotation or easing up.
“I wouldn’t see it as a rest week at all,” he said. “We’re working constantly. Myself, David [Meyler], Nults [Mark McNulty], the rest of the staff – we’re all working flat out behind the scenes to improve things.
"It’s a different competition, yes, but it’s a game we need to win. We need to win league games. We need to win every game. It is as simple as that.”
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