Cork City FC is delighted to announce Neale Fenn as the club’s new first team head coach after agreeing terms with Longford Town on his move back to the Rebel Army.

A former City player from 2004 to 2006, Fenn had a lengthy playing career with Tottenham Hotspur in the 1990’s before moving to the League of Ireland in 2003. He scored 27 goals in 84 league appearances for Cork City and won the Premier Division title with the Leesiders in 2005. He was a crucial member of the sides that progressed in Europe in ’04 and ‘05, scoring memorable away goals against FC Nantes and Djurgården IF.

Returning to City as Head Coach on a multi-year agreement, the Londoner managed Longford Town for the last two years and leaves the club comfortably in the play-off spots to vie for promotion to the Premier Division. Prior to that, he had previous spells as assistant manager of Leyton Orient and Drogheda United.

Speaking today exclusively to CCFC.ie, Neale expressed how happy he was to return to the club where he had so much success in his career as a player. “It’s fantastic to be back here. I took a walk around Turner’s Cross and the memories came flooding back of the fantastic nights in front of the Shed End – winning trophies and those great European nights.”

“I can’t wait to get going now. I’ve met the backroom team, a lot of who I know from my playing and coaching career. We’re committed now to finishing the season as high as we can in the league. There’s a very strong group of players here. The spine of the team is Cork City through and through, you need that to be successful,” he added.

City chairman Declan Carey said “It’s great to have Neale back at the club. We all have fond memories of Neale’s playing days at the Cross and he’s done very well at Longford, where they played an attacking style of football. He shares our vision of where we want to go. Make no mistake about it, Neale has a huge job now to bring this club back to where it belongs over the next few years. We’ll back him and the whole first team 100% and we hope the Cork public get behind what we’re trying to achieve. We’re all in this together – supporters, players, staff, board – everyone.”

Neale will join up with the rest of the management team on Monday morning for their first training session.

Fenn’s first game in charge will be the home game against Sligo Rovers next Friday night at Turner’s Cross, kick-off 7.45pm. Tickets are now available on Eventbrite and all usual outlets.