Cork City have become embroiled in a waspish war of words over who is funding new signing Steven Beattie’s wages.
A Rebels fans favourite, Beattie won the league and FAI Cup double with the Leesiders in 2017 and left in 2018 for a spell in America with Chattanooga Red Wolves.
But the 32-year-old returned to City this month as a marquee signing ahead of their promotion push from the First Division following relegation last season.
A consortium of Cork business people said it was providing ‘a financial gift’ to get Beattie over the line after a supporter-led GoFundMe appeal fell short of its target.
But Cork City’s Board of Management has issued a pointed statement today insisting the club is fully funding Beattie’s deal.
The Cork City statement read: “The Board of Management have become aware that a group of Cork business people have released a statement to the press.
“It states that they had made a donation towards the wages of Steven Beattie, who had recently resigned for Cork City FC.
“The board would like to make it clear that any contractual arrangement between Steven Beattie and Cork City Football Club is being fully funded by Cork City FC and not any third party.
“The club had no hand, nor part to play in this arrangement. Any arrangement for additional part-time employment is a matter for individual players.”
The Rebels statement continued: “The Board are also disappointed that this group has chosen to use the signing of a player as a publicity stunt to place pressure on the Board of Management.
“Since the ratification of the call option agreement with Grovemoor Ltd., we have made clear to this group on multiple occasions that we have a contractual arrangement with Grovemoor Ltd..
"We will be conducting our business in the proper manner by seeing out that arrangement.”
