Cork City hire Liam Buckley as sporting director but are on lookout for new manager

CORK CITY have hired Liam Buckley as sporting director but are looking for a new manager.

The Leesiders announced the appointment of the former St Pat’s boss to the newly created position on Wednesday afternoon.

Colin Healy, former Cork City manager
Liam Buckley is set to take over the management of the football team

Hours later, it was reported locally that Healy had resigned as boss. Neither Healy, Buckley, club owner Dermot Usher nor Chief Operating Officer Éanna Buckley could be contacted for comment.

However, Buckley and academy director Liam Kearney are understood to officiate Friday’s game against St Pat’s.

City have won just two of 13 games in the top flight. Since winning the First Division, Usher bought the club, although the takeover was only completed a fortnight before the start of the season.

On Thursday, Healy said timing had made recruitment difficult but the club still expects a stronger start to the season, only with UCD below them and part-timers Drogheda United above them.

For his part, Healy is said to have been unhappy with the apparent uncertainty about his position.

SunSport understand that former Northern Ireland and Sligo Rovers boss Ian Baraclough was eyed as a potential new manager if a change in the dugout was deemed necessary.

Instead, the club initially opted for the experienced Buckley, who, according to the club’s statement, would “mainly focus on recruiting players and supporting management in all football-related matters”.

Usher said: “I’m delighted to welcome Liam to the club. He has had a long and highly successful career in football and brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to the role.

“Liam will focus on helping the club recruit players and supporting the good work that is already being done on the football side.

“His knowledge and experience will be a great asset to us as we look to the summer and beyond, so I’m delighted to have him on board.”

Buckley, who watched City lose 5-0 to Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Monday, said: “I’m delighted to join Cork City. I’ve had some very good discussions with Dermot and the club’s staff and I’m really looking forward to working with everyone.

“Having been promoted back to the Premier Division last season we all want to build on the good work already done and work together to help this club fulfill their potential.”

There was no contribution from Healy in the statement – which was no longer available on the club’s website – with local reports saying the former Celtic midfielder had quit.

Baraclough aside, Tim Clancy has been linked with a move to Turner’s Cross following his departure from St Pat’s on Tuesday, although it’s understood a move to Cliftonville without a manager is seen as more likely.

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