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Know not a thing about it sir.

Clare Players Revolt



Tuesday October 27 2009

A letter sent to Clare county board last week by members of the senior hurling squad, registering their opposition to Mike McNamara continuing as their manager next year, is understood not to have been signed.

Clare PRO Syl O'Connor confirmed yesterday that the letter had been received by secretary Pat Fitzgerald but no individual signatures appear on it.

"I haven't seen the letter myself personally but I do understand that there are no signatures attached," said O'Connor, who confirmed that the letter had been sent on behalf of the senior squad.

It points to a clear lack of organisation among the players in their attempt to bring McNamara's two-year reign to an end.

The players want the letter read out at tonight's county board meeting in Ennis. However, O'Connor suggested that this was unlikely on account of the absence of transparency.

"There is an issue over what players exactly this letter came from," he added.

Signatures

Because there are no signatures, it is unclear how many players are behind the move to dispense with McNamara, who was part of the management triumvirate -- headed by Ger Loughnane -- that brought two All-Ireland titles to Clare in the 1990s.

Whether a rejection of their request to have their letter aired and the matter of management discussed at tonight's meeting will lead to an escalation and hardening of the players' position remains to be seen.

At a players' meeting almost three weeks ago, which is believed to be the origin of this letter, there were up to 17 in attendance including some of the squad's most senior players.

Their grievances against the existing management were crystallised but plans to advance their effort have foundered and unity among the entire squad is missing.

For his part, McNamara is not budging and is pressing ahead with plans for 2010. Ollie Baker and Alan Cunningham, two of his management team who were thought to be departing for personal reasons, are understood to be now ready to commit to a Mike Mac management team again.

McNamara was approached by a player representative since the meeting but he is believed to have repelled any notion that he would go of his own accord because the dressing-room was 'lost', as it was put to him.

The Scariff man was initially appointed for one season but this time last year was given a two-year extension at the request of the same clubs that the players are now hoping will join with them and remove him.

Having prompted the extension of two years -- the board executive initially proposed one -- it would be a tall order to ask the clubs to now undo what they had decided, regardless of how poor the season was.

Clare had an awful season that yielded just one competitive victory in league and championship, against Wexford in a relegation play-off semi-final that ultimately had no consequence after relegation from the Liam McCarthy was scrapped.

They lost six league matches and drew against Dublin, the game that ultimately condemned them to Division 2 hurling in the NHL next season.

They picked up their performance for the Munster championship and came close to derailing Tipperary with a spirited second-half display in Clare, before losing heavily to Galway in the qualifiers.

Among the grievances the players have aired among themselves are coaching issues, organisation and logistics and the approach to the league campaign that saw them train the day before league games against Limerick and Waterford.

There are indications that some players will not play for Clare next year if McNamara continues at the helm, but it is highly unlikely at this juncture that a full-scale withdrawal, like what happened in Cork over the last two off-seasons, will evolve.

The feeling is that McNamara was going to make sweeping changes to the squad anyway. It is thought that the players' position is weakened by the fact that it is being led by players who have personally underachieved for Clare in recent years.

Conform

In addition, the presence at the meeting of Gerry Quinn -- who was removed from the squad earlier this year by McNamara for failing to conform with team protocols regarding preparation and training -- may take away from their action in the public eye. Why the players have only begun to agitate in the last few weeks -- they were knocked out of the championship in July -- is open to interpretation. Either way, it is clear that, while a majority of players would prefer change after a disappointing year, not everyone is prepared to fight for that change.

Who Clare would turn to if Mike Mac did go or was removed, both unlikely scenarios at this stage, is not obvious.

U-21 manager John Minogue is on record as saying he doesn't want the job, while former manager Cyril Lyons may not be keen to get involved under the current regime.

Interestingly, Davy Fitzgerald's future with Waterford has yet to be confirmed.

Jesus

I thought berbatov was united's best player!

[Donal óg has acknowledged the GPA would like money for playing]

Actually I'm saying what Donal óg said, that the disputes and the GPA weren't about 'pay for play'. Gerald McCarthy seemed to think there was a link with the strike and the 'pay' thing so now that Donal óg has acknowledged the GPA would like money for playing, and that's been their private position for some time, perhaps Gerald's  'fears' should be given more credence.

Perhaps you'd be kind enough to post up that link / quote?

[He could and should have sent Carragher off]

Bad ref? He got most things right today. He could and should have sent Carragher off but it wouldn't  have mattered at that stage as Liverpool were dominant for the whole match and Utd deserved nothing from that performance.

So he got that wrong, did he?

No harm you guys finding solace in winning every 4 games or so. United are about winning titles. liverpool are all about winning the odd game...

poor performance. not enough cutting edge or guile in midfield.

bad ref too

who's the larries?

Strangely enough indeed Reillers and I've just watched the interview on the net. Obviously his sexuality was highlighted and nothing wrong with this or to use this as a selling point for the book but I'd say in the GAA world more people would be interested in what he has to say in relation to his disputes in Cork and his involvement in the GPA. Many might already have their minds made up as there's already a lot of information out there but it will be interesting to see if he acknowledges anything which previously he hasn't and what general spin he puts on everything. Let's be honest he didn't come accross as a b**tard on the Late Late but it was a book promotion and I'd say RTE were restricted to what matters they could raise although I'd like to hear Gerald's take on what Donal said he said. The reading of the book on these type of matters should tell us more about his honesty and integrity. When you think about it, it seems the only player to come into direct conflict with Gerald was Donal óg so you have to wonder if he was the chief instigator in all the disputes and if he'll throw any light on that. But you also have to remember that it wasn't that long ago that Donal was saying the Cork disputes and the GPA weren't looking pay for play but at the same time him and Dessie were doing a feasibility study on that very prospect.

So you're saying that the cork dispute was about pay for play, even though the feasability study you refer to in linking the two was done many years before?

They've gone through a lot of names at this stage and are struggling to get anyone to go in with him

Can't see McGrane being involved in the management team and oisin won't be.
that leaves diarmaid as a possibility

[Your great hope Benny Coulter would not get a place in the Armagh full forward line.]

You dead right they are, sure big Grimley was there too. That reallly was the start of the trend that now is : Armagh men getting involved with superior footballing counties!

I can just imagine the poor Armagh souls are thinking now

Come on Cavan, sorry I mean Up Kildare, no wait a minute its Monaghan, no actually come on Galway, Oh woops its actually Armagh. Come on Armagh 4 more All Irelands and we'll match the mighy Cavan and those hoors from Down, lead us Paddy show us how Down done it.

Down dont really register with us Armachians - we are too busy on our northern border. Down are a laughing stock of a team and wont be winning anything soon. Your great hope Benny Coulter would not get a place in the Armagh full forward line.
I hope we meet next summer.
Until then.

I would'nt be so sure Haveaharp, Paddy O'Rourkes now your manager there will always be a place for Benny in Paddy's heart being a true Down man. Speaking of which Paddy having won All Irelands with Down at minor, under 21, senior, and club, he's used to nothing but sucess but now he's changed his allegience to Armagh.

even as a manager?

The ex Down players have a lot of good words about O'Rourke so i think the Armagh fans have to give him a chance.... though i still can't understand how a Down man could manage Armagh.. 

you must be talking to different ones than me

A few questions:

Do I take it that the main outcry against POR is because he is from outside the county and specifically from Down?

Regardless of ability, why should there be a problem with the manager being from outside the county?

To become the manager, POR must have been nominated by at least one club, which one or ones?

Don't think it could have been any in the south of the county.  What club do those welcoming POR to the psot belong to?

you're wrong - no club nominated him. the selection committee second time round had the authority to pick who they liked.

Personally, i'd like someone to tell me why he was picked - on what criteria?

o dear

Absolutely Orior - not doubting his credentials at all. ulster clubs are hard to win and particularly for an antrim club.
also won a championship with blayney?