Barry calls for support from clubs

GAA/Managerial row in Meath: Meath football manager Eamonn Barry has issued a strong call to club delegates to remove what he says is a dictatorial presence in the county. Barry, who next Monday faces a recommendation from the county executive that he be removed from the position he was appointed to only three months ago, said it was time for the clubs to stand up.

"Are we dealing with a dictator? My firm belief is that there is a dictator and this is a challenge for all the clubs of the county. Meath football is crying out for change. I hope that the clubs will support me and take Meath football forward. I believe it's time for a change."

This is an obvious reference to county chair Fintan Ginnity whose differences with the two men Barry wanted to bring on to his backroom team, physio Dessie Rogers and the manager's brother Martin, provided part of the backdrop to this week's controversial events in Meath. When contacted yesterday Ginnity said he did not wish to comment.

Barry's views were, however, trenchantly rejected by county PRO Brendan Cummins.

"I think that's unfair on the chairman," he said. "This hasn't been a personalised issue. It has to be said that the two recent votes on these matters were carried at the executive with no votes against - both the rejection of Dessie Rogers as physio and the recommendation that the manager be removed.

"That is the proof that it's the whole executive taking these decisions and not just Fintan Ginnity."

It had been assumed the announcement on Wednesday of both Rogers and Martin Barry that they would not be in contention for the proposed appointments would resolve the matter. Rogers withdrew and Barry stated that he had never been in the running because of business commitments.

The two men served lengthy suspensions in the wake of their clash with Ginnity in the dressingroom of a Meath junior team but it is believed their subsequent appeal of the punishments as far as the High Court was the biggest influence on the hardline stance of the executive.

"It's very disappointing," was Eamonn Barry's reaction to Wednesday's developments. "I thought that that (the withdrawals) was sufficient but obviously it wasn't for the county management committee. I had a letter served on me at about half eight, confirming that they had recommended my removal."

According to Cummins, the view of the executive was that the recent confrontation would be likely to recur. "There was a feeling we had to grasp the nettle and be firm; otherwise we'd have the problem forever."

Asked was the likelihood of further conflict down the line not a reasonable apprehension on the part of the executive, Barry disagreed.

"That's totally unfair. The only two problems were Dessie Rogers and Martin Barry. I'm not aware of any other problems so I can't see why any further obstacles should be put in the way."

He believes that his decision to go public with the dispute last weekend was a large factor in the executive's move to remove him regardless of the fact that Rogers and Barry were no longer an issue in the dispute.

"Reading between the lines I'd say it's because I went public with the press about my feelings when I was expected to comply with a decision of the county management committee.

"In hindsight - and it's a great thing - if I had realised that the appointment of Dessie and Martin was going to cause so much confrontation I wouldn't have done it. I didn't set out to cause trouble."

The focus now switches to next Monday's meeting of the county board. Although this is the body that appointed Barry last September, there were growing doubts yesterday about the manager's prospects of hanging on in the face of the executive recommendation.

According to one source, not part of either camp, the county board is likely to decide that the new manager is incompatible with the officers although another pointed out that a number of delegates "would vote for Johnny Adair before they'd vote for Ginnity".

Barry himself remained optimistic that his position would be upheld. "I would be very hopeful that the clubs would appreciate what I've been doing for Meath football since being appointed. I've given 50 players the opportunity to play intercounty for Meath and run very successful trials. I've been getting a huge response and a good atmosphere.

"People have been saying there's not the talent in the county. But I'm absolutely thrilled at the attitude and willingness to come and play. There's plenty of footballers in Meath."

A complicating factor in the controversy is that a number of high-profile candidates ruled themselves out of contention for the manager's job back in the autumn on the basis that they had played under Seán Boylan and wouldn't oppose him.

When the long-serving manager decided to retire, nominations had closed.

But yesterday one of those high-profile former players, Colm O'Rourke, ruled himself out regardless of what happens next week. "No. I'm not going to be a candidate and I'd be surprised if in these circumstances many others would want to be either."