Board reject efforts to resolve dispute

FERMANAGH FOOTBALL:THE FERMANAGH County Board have adopted an entrenched approach regarding the 10-man player revolt against football manager John O'Neill.

The Fermanagh management committee yesterday rejected the initial GAA/Gaelic Players Association attempts to resolve the dispute, instead opting to “fully support” O’Neill and his management team.

A GAA/GPA delegation met county officials and the exiled players eight days ago with the suggestion of an independent consultative review of “protocols relevant to Fermanagh’s inter-county teams” at the end of the season.

The management committee rejected this proposal.

“It is a source of disappointment that our attempts to facilitate a solution have been unsuccessful and the GAA/GPA reiterate their availability to assist in any way required in the future,” said a GAA press release.

It means O’Neill will continue preparations for his first championship as an intercounty manager without the services of frontline players Mark Little, Séamus Quigley, James Sherry, Shane Lyons, Fergal Murphy, James Connolly, Tommy McElroy, Peter Sherry, Niall Bogue and Ciarán Flaherty.

This is a familiar county board stance, when compared with recent player versus manager stand-offs in other counties, which seem unique to Gaelic games, in an Irish sporting context anyway.

Basically, those who appointed O’Neill do not accept their decision might not have been the correct one despite strenuous objections from an experienced playing base.

The Fermanagh board have been buoyed by the decision of captain and All Star defender Barry Owens to remain part of the playing panel.

The dispute appears to have been exacerbated by reports of the absence of a medical professional at training, highlighted when a player was knocked unconscious, and players are also seemingly disappointed by a lack of pre-season matches.

The team has performed poorly in the National League, currently lying seventh in Division Four with just two wins and a draw from six outings. Only Kilkenny and London are below them.

The Fermanagh board stated yesterday: “We acknowledge that four players informed county officers in writing last Tuesday (April 22nd) they had formally withdrawn from the Fermanagh senior football panel. As a result of this letter, officers of the county board met these players last Thursday in accordance with the disputes resolution protocols as outlined in the recently announced GAA/GPA recognition agreement.”

However, the statement goes on to explain that “following discussions with the GAA/GPA we did not consider that their suggestions represented an appropriate way forward.”

The Fermanagh PRO, Deirdre Donnelly, did, however, confirm yesterday lines of communication between the county board, Croke Park and the GPA remained open.

“The protocols were not rejected,” said Donnelly. “What they were suggesting to us was rejected. We didn’t agree with the GAA/GPA recommendations but there will always be open lines of communication between Fermanagh, the GAA and GPA.”

The Fermanagh statement added: “We recognise that the senior team is in transition, and we ask that the current team management and players are given time and space to manage this situation. We appeal to all Fermanagh Gaels to continue their support to all our county teams.”

The underlying issue, Donnelly conceded, was communication between those who appoint an intercounty manager, the county management committee, and the players.

“I can’t put my finger on what it is,” said Donnelly. “I think it is just a complete difference of understanding of what the mechanisms are and what the processes are. I suppose the county management committee is there to run affairs of the county as they see fit. The players maybe just don’t understand the systems and the processes.

“There is no straight forward answer to it and it is no straight forward problem.

“We have 28 guys who are out there playing, committed to the squad. We have to support those guys.”

Fermanagh County Board points

1Fermanagh County Management Committee fully supports the management team of John O'Neill (right) and his backroom team.

2We commend the leadership shown by the senior team captain and players' representative, Barry Owens, and pledge our support to all those panel members who have continued to play for our senior football team.

3We reaffirm that all our team managers are appointed to a three-year term.

4We regret that the four players are currently unavailable for selection to our senior team, and acknowledge their contribution to Fermanagh football over the years.

5We are committed to working to address issues raised by all players.

6Following discussions with the GAA/GPA we did not consider that their suggestions represented an appropriate way forward for Fermanagh.