Pat Dolan was yesterday unveiled as Cork City's new manager after signing a three-year deal at Turner's Cross to end his 15-year stay at St Patrick's Athletic.

Dolan was introduced by the club chairman, Brian Lennox, at a press conference in the city which was attended by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor John Kelleher; who rarely misses Cork's home matches. Lennox described the appointment of Dolan as "a momentous day for the club."

Dolan said that his appointment did not preclude the club from appointing a general manager but he said that his brief meant that he would be taking full control of football activities and would also be involved in commercial activities - "because I enjoy that as well," he said.

Dolan did not rule out bringing St Patrick's colleagues, trainer David Mahedy and influential midfielder Paul Osam, to Turner's Cross but was quick to state that Osam still had a year of his contract to run in Inchicore.

"I know everybody that's involved in the football club (Cork) and I need to try and evaluate exactly who's best in what role. I need to evaluate who exactly wants to be involved and I think I'm not ruling anybody out but I would say as well yes, I will be bringing people in, people that I've worked with before, people that I know and trust because not to do so would be ludicrous.

"I think we've seen before that you've got to have people who've got a track record of being able to work with you. Sometimes I'm perhaps not the most easy person to work with because I get very disappointed if people don't give the same commitment that I'm prepared to give and I know that Dave Mahedy certainly does."

When specifically asked about Osam he said: "One of the great privileges of my career so far was to manage Paul Osam and for him not to get an international cap was bizarre. But he has got another year of his contract at St Pat's and I have no doubt he will see that year out and for me to speculate would be unfair on the future of players I have just left behind."

Lennox added:"I believe that the people of this city and county are prepared to come together and support this club on the good days and bad and that we can become the biggest and best club in Irish football."

The conference was also attended by Michael Wallace, the Dublin-based developer from Wexford who was said to be ready to invest €500,000 in St Patrick's had Dolan remained in charge. He did not rule out the possibility of getting involved in Cork City.