Meath selector stands down

News: In yet another blow for newly installed Meath football manager Eamon Barry, Andy McEntee has stepped down as selector.

In a terse statement released through the county board McEntee said: "I am stepping down in the light of recent developments and all that has happened.

"On account of the current working environment, I'm not prepared to put in the required time and effort."

Meath PRO Brendan Cummins was adamant that the nine-point list imposed on the management team - as a result of Barry's clash (and subsequent apology) with the county executive - was not a factor in the Dunboyne club man opting out.

The off-season controversy in Meath seemed to have abated when Brendan Dempsey unseated Fintan Ginnity as county board chairman earlier this month but the latest development leaves Barry's position as manager under serious threat.

Barry stated yesterday that he chose McEntee as part of the backroom team although the initial row with the county board stems from a failed attempt to have his brother Martin Barry installed as a selector.

"We will not be appointing a new selector until after Christmas," said Barry. "Andy came to me and told me recently, naturally I was disappointed but it's better that he decided to step down now than for him to hang in there when unable to commit."

Meath's first official outing under Barry is on January 8th when they face DCU in the O'Byrne Cup in Navan.

And his plight may worsen before then as veteran players Darren Fay and Trevor Giles are yet to confirm they will play under the new management.

"I have spoken to them (Giles and Fay) but we won't know if they will be back until after Christmas," said Barry.

"As I said to every player at a team meeting last week, it is an open ended panel so everybody has to fight for their place."