Bennett back training with Cork City FC:

Alan Bennett (top left) celebrates 2005 Eircom League win

Former Cork City star defender Alan Bennett has been training with the club and could well re-join when the transfer window re-opens next month.  The 2005 Eircom League winner trained on Wednesday evening with Tommy Dunne's charges and will watch this evening's game against Athlone Town from the stands at Turners Cross.  Bennett was joined at training on Wednesday by former City players Denis Behan, Leon McSweeney and Joe Gamble, who were all released by Hartlepool United at the end of last season.  The quartet were also joined by current Ireland senior international Damien Delaney at City training on Wednesday, but for the latter it is more with a view of maintaing fitness ahead of the upcoming Championship season he faces cross channel with Ipswich Town.

PROUD IRISH INTERNATIONAL: Bennett has won two full caps

Ex City star Gamble also training at club

Bennett, who has won two senior international caps, now looks a realistic possibility to re-join the "Rebel Army," though he has said that he would prefer to play full-time football and earn a "full-time wage."  City are of course now part-time and playing first division football, though, should City achieve promotion this season, they could well become a full-time or semi full-time outfit next season.  Bennett's presence at the heart of the back four would help attain said promotion.  Bennett has also stated that being offered a part-time contract would not be a major "stumbling block" and that he would speak to any League of Ireland club.  This would lead further credence to his "full-time football" desire however and is almost a "Come and get me" plea to Premier Division clubs who could employ his services.  
However, when he left City in 2007 for (then Premier League club) Reading, the now 29 year old stated that he would return to his hometown club someday and fans of the Rebel Army will be hoping that he does just that over the coming weeks.