Morgan quits after selection problems

GAELIC GAMES:Billy Morgan has stepped down as manager of the Cork footballers, indicating that he would not be seeking a new appointment. Citing his unhappiness at the Cork County Board decision to impose selectors on the management, Morgan brought the curtain down on an involvement with the county senior footballers that stretches back over 40 years.

Between his playing and management career, he has been a central influence on three All-Ireland titles - half of the county's football total - as captain in 1973 and manager in 1989 and '90. His second term as manager, from 2004 until this year - wasn't as successful, although it included one Munster championship and an All-Ireland appearance last September.

"This was inevitable once the decision was made that the county board would appoint selectors," he told The Irish Times. "When I went back four years ago, it was on the clear understanding that I'd name my own backroom team."

Describing it as a retrograde step, the outgoing Cork manager said it reminded him of the situation when he first took over the team 21 years ago. "In 1987 I wasn't even a selector but the following year when Nemo won the county I was nominated as one and the county board took the decision to allow the county champions nominate all of the selectors and Nemo simply asked me who I wanted and we won the All-Ireland in 1989 and '90 - which should have been a lesson."

Morgan's fate had been in the balance since the All-Ireland final when they misfired against Kerry and suffered a heavy defeat. The manager also received an initial six-month suspension for verbal abuse of a linesman during the match and although this was reduced to eight weeks, he revealed yesterday that it had been his intention 12 months ago to make 2007 his final year in charge of the team but that the nature of the All-Ireland loss prompted a rethink.

"At the start of last season I'd made up my mind that win, lose or draw it would be my last shot at it and even before the final I felt the same way. It would have been a great way to go, winning the All-Ireland but defeat and the way we lost made me think about it again.

"I still feel we could have won the All-Ireland. In the first 20 minutes both teams were very jittery - Kerry more than us but the first goal steadied them and when they scored the second they settled down to play good football and cleaned us out. But that didn't stop me feeling that we could have done better."

Despite the unsatisfactory conclusion to a long career, he doesn't regret returning in 2003.

"I came back reluctantly four years ago because Cork football was in such a bad state and because I have a passion for it and believed that they should be able to challenge with the best. I hoped to put things back on a steady footing.

"If I felt there was someone who could definitely take Cork football forward I'd have willingly stepped aside but I think they're going to find it difficult to get someone of high enough calibre to work under this system. Someone rings you up and asks will you take the job. You ask: 'Who will I be working with?' and the response is: 'I can't tell you that'."

He said that he had had approaches from the players in recent weeks both in relation to his appeal hearing and the possibility of staying on.

"I was talking to the players, who said to me that they'd like to come along and express their support for me but I said there'd be no point because they wouldn't be let into the hearing. They also said: 'We'd like you to stay on'."

Morgan's decision to depart leaves the county looking for a successor, who, as Morgan pointed out, will have to agree to work with imposed selectors.

A number of names have been speculated on: Tony Leahy, who managed the county to this year's under-21 All-Ireland and Niall Cahalane, who was an inspirational presence on the 1989 and '90 teams and has coached UCC.

Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald may be unable to return to hurling in the New Year. The 36-year-old sustained a bad finger injury while playing for Sixmilebridge in the Clare hurling championship which has thrown his career into doubt and he is awaiting a full assessment.