Dublin football manager Mickey Whelan has resigned. Rumours ran like an electric current around Parnell Park yesterday after Dublin's defeat by Leinster champions Offaly. He informed county board officials of his decision shortly after the final whistle.

He had already announced his intention to the players in the dressing room after the match, which was Dublin's second defeat of the league campaign. One player remarked on leaving: "I've just seen the harsh side of football."

County secretary John Costello eventually informed waiting journalists that no statement would be issued until tonight's scheduled county committee meeting. Press ed as to whether Whelan had stepped down, he replied, "Yes," but refused to comment further.

Earlier, Whelan had also refused to confirm or deny the reports from the dressing room. "To be honest, wouldn't the best thing just be to leave it? I've no comment to make at this stage, I'll make comments in due time. If I was stepping down, I'd make the appropriate statement.

"The pressure that's on me is not affecting me in any way, but it may be affecting the players. Fellas, listen, this is not a funeral or an execution either - so, the best of luck."

Whelan's decision is surprising in its timing, although he had been under pressure since losing the opening league fixture to Sligo just over two weeks ago. Dissatisfaction was expressed at official levels then, but no developments were expected.

Yesterday's result was disappointing, but no more so than the chaotic, disorganised performance which had some Dublin supporters in the crowd chanting, "Out, out," at the full-time whistle and attracting angry gestures from one of the Dublin players.

Little over two years after his surprise appointment to succeed the All-Ireland winning management team of Pat O'Neill and his selectors, Whelan has obviously decided that he has had enough.

His tenure has been disappointing, with the team slipping from the pinnacle as All-Ireland champions to also-rans in Leinster.

There was quite a sharp irony in yesterday's match with Offaly, a team which has come virtually from nowhere to win Leinster, comprehensively outplaying Dublin in a manner that would have been unthinkable just two years ago. Offaly are managed by Tommy Lyons, the Kilmacud clubman passed over for the Dublin job when Whelan was appointed.

Nonetheless, the outgoing Dublin manager deserves some sympathy. It was obvious last June after the championship defeat by Meath - an outcome that he had said would precipitate his stepping aside - that a change would have been a good idea. Instead, Whelan was confirmed in the job for the third year of his original appointment.

That two league defeats should now lead to his resignation is unprecedentedly severe, particularly when, on the evidence of yesterday's match, Offaly, as well as being Leinster champions, are simply a better team.

As the announcement was such a surprise, it is unlikely that the county board have made any contingency plans, and tonight's county committee meeting will have plenty of material for deliberation.