Foras not with Coughlan as fans blame Cork City owner

LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION:THE RELATIONSHIP between Cork City owner Tom Coughlan and the club's supporters group, Foras, is likely to deteriorate further after the latter described the events of last Friday as the most humiliating in the club's history.

“To hear the captain of Cork City FC live on local radio, essentially begging the people of Cork for the money for a bus to take them to Dublin, so they can fulfil a fixture, is surely the most humiliating episode in the entire history of Cork City FC,” said the organisation’s board of management in a statement yesterday.

“The blame for these problems lies squarely with Cork City Investments Ltd and its owner, Mr Tom Coughlan.”

Foras have called for Coughlan to open the accounts of the club so the full extent of its problems can be assessed by potential investors.

With further legal threats to the club’s continued operation looming because of the financial difficulties, Foras have reiterated their willingness to take over the running of City’s underage structures. but the prospect of any sort of cooperation with Coughlan looks slim.

Through all of this, Paul Doolin and his players continue to soldier on defiantly, and, after Friday’s draw in Inchicore, the City boss is hoping a win over Sligo Rovers this evening might keep his side in the hunt for a place in Europe next season.

Greg O’Halloran is suspended for tonight’s game after being sent off at the weekend, but Neal Horgan should be fit to start, while Dan Murray and Stephen O’Donnell both face late tests prior to kick-off.

In the wake of their narrow defeat by Shamrock Rovers on Saturday evening, Sligo arrive in Cork with a full squad to choose from again.

It was announced yesterday, meanwhile, that Tadhg Purcell has left Shamrock Rovers by mutual consent. The young striker would appear to be the latest victim of Michael O’Neill’s attempt to strengthen his squad.

The arrival recently of Graham Barrett bumped Purcell down the queue for first team action for the Tallaght outfit, who are being strongly linked to close season moves for St Patrick’s Athletic’s Mark Quigley and Rafael Cretaro of Sligo Rovers.