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Water off a duck's back

Caulfield calls on 'cosy cartel of managers' to promote the league instead of 'slagging Cork City off'

“Stand up and be counted,” says the boss of the league leaders.

ACCORDING TO CORK City manager John Caulfield, a certain number of his managerial peers in the SSE Airtricity League need to alter their media output.

Caulfield feels there’s “a cosy cartel between a couple of managers” who should use their public platform to shed some positive light on the League of Ireland instead of “slagging” Cork City, who are currently 15 points clear at the top of the Premier Division.

John Caulfield John Caulfield issues instructions to Ryan Delaney before Cork City's win against Shamrock Rovers. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

The City boss made the comments following his side’s 4-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers. When asked by The42 if the Leesiders had been motivated by a pre-match interview given by Rovers manager Stephen Bradley, Caulfield insisted he hadn’t paid it any attention.

Defender Ryan Delaney, who scored twice in the win against the Hoops, had stated that the City players were keen to give a response to Bradley, who told The Irish Sun in the build-up to the game that the current league leaders haven’t yet matched the standards set by the Dundalk side that won the last three Premier Division titles.

“I never mentioned it,” Caulfield said in relation to Bradley’s comments. “There’s a cosy cartel between a couple of managers who like slagging me or slagging the club off. We’d be a lot better off if we all promoted the league and drove forward.

“What’s the point in slagging me? People around this country know me. Most people know what I am; I’m passionate about the league, I’m passionate about soccer. It’s about promoting the league. Stand up and be counted. Slagging me off, two or three of them, it’s grand, it’s water off a duck’s back. They’re better off standing up for the league. Be counted.”

Caulfield’s side will be looking to extend their undefeated run in the league to 17 games on Friday when they travel to Oriel Park to face defending champions Dundalk.

The game will be the first meeting of the rivals since Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny caused controversy in April by accusing City of manufacturing penalties.

Caulfield continued: “This league needs to drive on. People need to speak out. That’s what really annoys me. I don’t see it and I’m disappointed.

“I’ve come into the league four years ago and I can’t understand why people just don’t stand up, because the managers are powerful in this country. They can stand up and be counted.”

Caulfield spoke passionately about the health of domestic football last week, with the former Cork City striker expressing a belief that the success of Connacht Rugby has set an example for what can be achieved by the League of Ireland in the future if investment increases and TV coverage and facilities improve.

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