CORK CITY HAVE secured the services of experienced defender Kenny Browne.
The 29-year-old joins the Rebels from St Patrick’s Athletic, where he won the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title, the FAI Cup and the EA Sports Cup during a four-year spell in Inchicore.
Waterford native Browne becomes the second player to make the switch between the two clubs in a week after Cork’s recent capture of Greg Bolger.
“I’m thrilled to get it done,” Browne told the club. “I can’t wait to meet the lads and get started on working hard for pre-season.
“For me, this is probably the biggest club in Ireland. Cork City definitely have the biggest fanbase and it has always been my favourite away ground to play at. I’m really excited, it’s a massive football city and there is massive potential there. I just can’t wait to get down and get going.”
“I’ve won a league and a cup, so I bring some experience, and I would like to think I am good defender as well! There are a lot of top players here, so I am under no illusions. I’m not going to come down here and stroll into the team, I need to work hard to get into the team.”
As soon as I spoke to John, I liked his manner, the way he deals with things. He’s straight up with you and that’s what I want. I’m excited, I wanted a new challenge, I have been in Dublin for the last four or five years, so when Cork City came in there was only one place I wanted to be.
“As a club, the target has to be to win the league, it’s as simple as that. Looking in from the outside, I don’t think Cork City are a million miles away and, if we can add a bit more to the squad and keep the best players here, there’s no reason why we can’t win the league.”
Rebels boss John Caulfield added: “Like Greg Bolger, Kenny was part of the St Pat’s side that won the league a couple of season ago and won the cup last year. He is in the prime of his career, he is strong in the air, quick and can pass the ball out from the back.
“We have had a very good defensive record over the last couple of years; we want to keep that, so we want to bolster our defence with top players and Kenny fits that bill.”
“When you have players who have won leagues and cups, it does no harm because they know what it’s about.
“We’ve been very close and we have to push on for next season, so I think Kenny and Greg’s experience will help, but the most important thing is that they are very, very good players. He’s keen to do well and that’s what we want.”
