Sport

Fermanagh 11 make their case

A STATEMENT has been released by a number of Fermanagh players expressing “deep disappointment” with the decision of the county…

Sat Apr 02 2011 - 01:00

A STATEMENT has been released by a number of Fermanagh players expressing "deep disappointment" with the decision of the county committee to reject proposals brought forward by the GAA and Gaelic Players Association designed to resolve the situation in the county which has seen the vast majority of last year's championship team unavailable for the league campaign, writes Seán Moran.

The players reiterate their unhappiness with manager John O’Neill, who the county endorsed along with his three-year appointment despite the principal mediated proposal that there be a review of “protocols relevant to Fermanagh’s intercounty teams”.

“It is our continued contention that the current management team falls far short of the high standards of organisation and preparation which are required to compete at intercounty standard,” reads the statement. “Rather than this season being a launch pad for a rebuilding process, we believe there has been a decline in standards.

“As a result the undersigned 11 panel members, (not ‘only four’ as stated by the county board) have withdrawn to date due to concerns regarding team management. We have also received the support of a significant number of players from last year’s squad who share our views on the situation.

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“We would like to make it clear we bear no animosity . . . to the players who remain on the panel and have at no point attempted to coerce or influence any panellist into making a decision. However we believe the county board have attempted to drive a wedge between the current squad and the players involved in the dispute. Furthermore, we reject the county board’s assertion that the current squad is in ‘transition’. We believe the alarmingly high level of player turnover within the county is a symptom of deep problems which the board are currently unwilling to address.”

Signing off as “2011 Withdrawn Panel Members”, they call on clubs to force the issue and thank the GAA and GPA for their efforts to broker a solution, signing off: Niall Bogue, James Connolly, Ciarán Flaherty, Mark Little, Liam Lynch, Shane Lyons, Tommy McElroy, John Mullarkey, James Sherry and Peter Sherry.