Richardson facing a ban for final
It emerged today that Cork City boss Damien Richardson could miss the FAI Cup final with a touchline ban if the Leesiders get to the RDS on Cup final day on December 2.
The City boss was sent from the dugout during the recent 1-1 draw with Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds and that dismissal could now come back to haunt him and impact on him come the cup final.
Richardson has sought a personal hearing to the case claiming that he was berating one of his own players and not the match referee on the night in question.
The league’s disciplinary committee meets every Wednesday but the sooner Richardson’s hearing is held the better for Cork.
The closer it gets to December 2 the more likely he is to be banned as managers have a different time-scale for suspensions than players.
When players are red-carded, they automatically miss the next match - but with team managers the guidelines are different.
“I am looking for a personal hearing on this one and I intend to take it all the way. It was a simple misunderstanding on the night and I am waiting for the referee’s report to come in,” said Richardson.
“We have a cup semi-final coming up against Bohs now on Friday night and that’s far more important to me and the team than any personal hearing of mine so I’d rather concentrate on the game,” he added.
Richardson and his players were at a Drugs in Sport and anti-doping seminar at the Sheraton Fota Island hotel yesterday while Admir Softic and Darragh Ryan attended the media briefing in Dublin for the cup semi-finals.
Cork have no fresh injury doubts for the Bohs clash and John O’Flynn, who shipped a knock to the nose against St Pat’s, will be fit to play in what appears to be an unchanged team.
Richardson will be busy too over the next few days with so many players’ contracts up for renewal.
Cork now have 14 players in all out of contract at the moment.
The players OUT of contract are: Mark McNulty, Cillian Lordan, Cathal Lordan, Darragh Ryan, Sean Kelly, Brian O’Callaghan, Leon McSweeney, John O’Flynn, Denis Behan, Colin O’Brien, Billy Woods, Colm Carroll, Darren Murphy & Admir Softic.
The Cork players still in/under contract are: Mick Devine, Neal Horgan, Joe Gamble, Liam Kearney, Colin Healy, Gareth Farrelly and club captain Dan Murray.
