Pat Dolan was today unveiled as the new Cork City manager. He succeeds Liam Murphy who resigned three weeks ago.
The former St. Patrick's Athletic boss had been linked with the vacant post since Tuesday and has signed a three-year deal with the Turners Cross club. Dolan will also take charge of off-field affairs.
St. Patrick's were hoping to hang on to the 34-year-old but Dolan tendered his resignation to chairman Andy O'Callaghan last night after both parties failed to agree new terms.
"I can't tell you how excited I am by this opportunity," Dolan told a press conference this lunch-time.
"Anyone who knows me will know that it was going to have to be something very special to prise me away from St Pat's," he said.
"But I relish the fresh challenge of Cork City. This is a massive job. The club has tremendous potential...we can bring the club success."
St. Patrick's Athletic first team coach, Eamon Collins, is tipped to replace Dolan at Richond Park but the new Cork manager cast some doubt over that appointment when saying he would bring in some of his own backroom team. Not to do so, he said, would be "ludicrous."
Speculation regarding Dolan's position at St. Pats had been mounting in recent weeks following the club's poor finish to the season.
After starting brightly in the Intertoto Cup, the club's league form dipped alarmingly midway through the season and they only just survived a promotion / relegation play-off battle.
It was also reported that Dolan was unhappy with the sale of key players at Richmond Park. Goalkeeper Seamus Kelly has recently joined Bohemians, striker Ger McCarthy joined Shelbourne last month while Philip Hughes has moved to Kildare County.
In a statement released last night, St. Patrick's Athletic paid tribute to Dolan who, over a period of 15 years, served as player, manager and chief executive at the club.
"We are certain that wherever he goes he will bring his special talents to bear and we regret that he has decided to decline our offer. We also understand that he seeks a new challenge," the statement read.
"We wish Pat well in all his future endeavours and assure him that there will always be a warm welcome for him at St Patrick's Athletic in the Stadium of Light."
"The club is losing a special person and we are losing a special friend. He will never be forgotten."