Shamrock Rovers manager Bradley calls out Cork City for 'weak' decision not to organise guard of honour

Stephen Bradley has slammed Cork City’s “weak” decision not to give Shamrock Rovers a guard of honour at Turner’s Cross.

The tradition to honour the newly crowned champions by applauding them onto the pitch was observed by Derry City last year but interim Cork manager Richie Holland decided against it to avoid a backlash from fans.

He instead presented Bradley with two bottles of champagne before the scoreless draw.

“It’s really poor from Cork. It’s just respect, isn’t it?” said Rovers boss Bradley.

“I’d definitely do it for a team. I don’t understand it. That’s their decision. It is what it is but I think it’s really poor from them.

“Derry did it last year because they recognise it’s hard winning leagues. You have to show up every day, every week, and the least you can do is give someone a guard of honour. Derry showed us that respect last year.

“Their manager’s decision was really poor, awful.

“They want to create a siege mentality, supposedly. I don’t know. I really don’t understand it. He just said they wouldn’t be doing it. His fans wouldn’t be happy. I think that’s so weak. Really poor. You talk about leadership…” Holland insisted no disrespect was intended by the decision.

“Since I’ve come in, I’ve been beating the drum that it’s Cork against the rest of the world,” he said.

“It’s not a disrespect to Shamrock Rovers or anything like that but I know my fanbase wouldn’t have liked us doing that tonight in front of the Shed.

“I’d be hypocritical if I’m going to be going against our own. I’ll take the flak and I’ll take whatever is to come from the outside but I need to make sure that there’s a mentality here that I have everyone onside for the next two weeks.

“I told Stephen that. I said if the situation was