The OC agrees Cork deal

The defender – a regular under former Magpies boss Gudjon Thordarson last season – has agreed a six-month deal in his native Ireland following his release from Meadow Lane earlier in the summer.

Much-malinged

Brian: Back in business

O'Callaghan, 25, was initially offered fresh terms at the ‘Lane before Thordarson moved swiftly to withdraw the offer, one that O'Callaghan would have been likely to accept considering he dropped into the lower depths of non-league football with Worksop in 2004 before Thordarson would take the burly defender to Icelandic side Keflavik.

Thus the Limerick-born defender is eligible for Cork's Champions League qualifying match with the Cypriote side Apollon Limassol, with the OC being signed to bolster the defences of City in their forthcoming League of Ireland campaign, a factor that manager Damien Richardson was quick to point out upon the signing of O'Callaghan.

“He will give us plenty of cover as he can play anywhere in defence and he has plenty of experience,” Richardson beamed, speaking to Ireland Online earlier today.

“He is a top player and we've a lot of games coming up and he will ensure we can rotate the squad a bit more than we have been.”

O'Callaghan becomes the fourth of those players released this summer to find himself a new club.

Striker Matty Williams and defender Emmet Friars both joined Tamworth , while Andy White has signed for Kidderminster.

Defender Julien Baudet - who turned down the offer of a new deal at Meadow Lane - has joined Crewe Alexandra.

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