Cork City fight off outside interest to re-sign Stephen Dooley

John Caulfield revealed Cork City fought off interest from abroad to convince winger Stephen Dooley to stay at Turner's Cross for another year.

The 25-year-old excelled during his first season on Leeside after joining from Derry City, impressing particularly as City progressed through two rounds of Europa League qualifying.

Dooley, like top scorer Sean Maguire and Kevin O'Connor, was subject to interest from across the water as a number of British scouts attended the FAI Cup final, which City won, in November.

The Antrim man's signature brings to 14 the number of senior players Caulfield has re-signed ahead of the 2017 season, a level of consistency he feels will only benefit their title push.

“Like a lot of our top players, there was a lot of interest shown in him, but they are all buying into what we are trying to do and where we are trying to go,” Caulfield told the club's website.

“Everyone knows the goals and chances he created, as well as the goals he scored, especially the goal against Dundalk at home when he broke from the halfway line. He is in great shape and really looking forward to the season ahead.

“We saw the best of him in the second half of last season, and it is for him now to push himself on and be better again this season. The way he has applied himself and the condition he has come back in is a credit to him.”

Dooley echoed his manager's sentiments, adding: “I was working hard during the off-season getting ready for pre-season and I am delighted to get back in and get started.

“Maybe last season there was a settling in period and I found myself in and out of the team, which is fair enough, but I am well settled in now and hopefully this year I can kick on and have a better year.

“We will set ourselves the highest targets; we want to win the league, we want to win the cup again and in Europe, we had a good campaign, and we would like to go further in Europe this season.

“If we can improve on all those aspects, it would make for a very good year.”

Dooley may not be the only winger to put pen to paper at Turner's Cross this week as Haitian international and former Sligo Rovers player Pascal Millien is training with the club.