Cork City secure sensational return of Sean Maguire just weeks after manager complained about transfer woes
Former Preston and Ireland striker Sean Maguire is back at Turner’s Cross to spearhead Cork City’s promotion bid.
Cork City have secured the return of striker Sean Maguire on a ‘multi-year’ contract - just two weeks after manager Tim Clancy complained about the difficulties of signing players in the First Division.
Clancy also bemoaned the “through the roof” wages being paid in the Premier Division.
Since then, however, the Leesiders finances have been boosted by a €300,000 cheque as part of former player Jake O’Brien’s €20m transfer from Lyon to Everton.
And they will receive some money too in the form of training compensation for Jaden Umeh, who last weekend completed his move to Portuguese giants Benfica.
Of course, their history with 11-time capped Ireland striker Maguire also contributed to his return to Turner’s Cross.
Maguire was a key figure during the Leesiders’ epic tussle with Dundalk, when he scored 53 goals across a season and a half, winning a Premier Division title and an FAI Cup.
He moved from Cork to Preston in the summer of 2017 and scored 24 goals in 170 appearances, while he later moved to Coventry City and Carlisle United.
Maguire scored for Ireland in a November 2019 friendly win over New Zealand.
The 30-year-old, who will link up with his new teammates once he returns from England with his family, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be coming back to City.
“I had such an amazing spell at the club here before going to Preston and I have always wanted to come back.
“I’ve been speaking with the club over the last few weeks, and I have been really impressed by the plans the club has to build towards getting back to where a club of this size should be.
“There are some really good players at the club, some really exciting young players, and I hope that I can use my experience to help them to achieve their potential.
“I have been watching things at the club over the last few years and was really disappointed to see the club down in the First Division, but I know that the club has the ambition to be a force in the Premier Division again and I feel like I can make a big contribution to that.
“Obviously, the team have got themselves into a really good position in the league, and we want to make sure that we finish the job and book a place in the Premier Division for next season.
“There is also the FAI Cup game against Derry City next week, which I know everyone at the club is looking forward to as well.”
“You look at the crowds the club was getting last season and again this season, and there is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the biggest clubs in the country.
“The fans were incredible for me in my previous spell here and I cannot wait to play in front of them again.
“I am really looking forward to being back playing at Turner’s Cross and to being part of what the club is building.”
Leesiders boss Clancy added: “This is a fantastic signing for us. We are getting a striker with a really impressive pedigree at a very good level, but also someone who knows the club and loves being a part of the Rebel Army.
“I have spoken a number of times about us wanting to make sure that we bring the right type of players into the club, who will help us get to where we want to go, and I believe Seani signing shows exactly what we are trying to do here.
“Of course, there was a lot of competition for Seani’s signature, but I think he has bought into what we are trying to do and I know that he can be a really big part of things here over the next few years.”
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