Cork City are already planning their squad for life back in the Premier Division next season. The club secured promotion by winning the First Division and now faces the challenge of building a competitive top-flight team for 2027.
Manager Barry Robson, who arrived from Scotland in January on a two-year deal, has begun the process. He has the support of board consultant Simon Grayson and director of football Liam Kearney. The club has already extended Seáni Maguire's contract by twelve months, keeping the number 24 at Turner's Cross until the end of 2028. Key attackers Ruairí Keating and Hans Mgongo remain under contract, while goalkeeper Conor Brann has earned an Ireland call-up.
Defensively, captain Fiacre Kelleher and Rory Feeley form an accomplished central pairing. Conor Drinan provides a solid option at left-back. However, the full-back positions could use more depth. In midfield, the situation is more pressing. Youngster Cillian Murphy, who has attracted solid interest from Arsenal, will stay for next season but is likely to move to the UK next July when he turns 18. His 37-year-old central partner is set to transition fully into coaching. Veteran winger Greg Bolger provides experience, but attracting quality wingers is another priority.
While planning for 2027, Cork City continue to dominate the First Division in 2026. They sit first with 68 points from 30 games, boasting a record of 21 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses. Their goal difference stands at an impressive +36, having scored 62 goals while conceding just 26. They hold a commanding 20-point lead over second-placed UCD. Their recent form shows they are unbeaten in their last five matches, with two wins and three draws. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw away to Bray Wanderers on September 4th. The full league standings show their dominance this campaign.
Owner Dermot Usher and 20% shareholder David Cronin have invested €3 million into the club since the FORAS fan ownership ended before the 2023 season. This financial backing is vital as top-flight squad budgets range from €1 million up to nearly €3 million for clubs like Shamrock Rovers and Derry City. Simon Grayson and Liam Kearney have been scouting players at Premier Division matches, primarily in Dublin. The club has already secured a couple of pre-contract deals.
Potential targets include players like Kevin Long, who has been a colossus for Waterford since his February move back to Munster. Adam O'Reilly is approaching the end of his contract at Derry City. Paddy Barrett, currently captain at Shelbourne, is another name in the frame. This marks a shift from the erratic player movement during 2023, which was partly blamed on Usher's late takeover, and the injury crisis that contributed to a basement finish two years prior.
The step up will be significant. Only Ruairí Keating, Darragh Crowley, and Conor Drinan remain from the squad that suffered the first relegation drop. Manager Barry Robson acknowledged "the difficult part coming next." Both he and Simon Grayson are new to the Irish scene but bring experience from relegation battles elsewhere. Damien Duff, now at Shelbourne, once remarked that some clubs "rewarded most of their First Division title winners with the door," a path Cork City seems keen to avoid.
The Rebel Army fanbase, which registered the sixth-highest average attendance in the 2025 season, will be important. Visits from Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians are expected to have Turner's Cross rocking. If Sligo Rovers are relegated, Bohemians will be the sole top-flight club without private investment in 2027, highlighting the changed financial landscape Cork City now operates within.
