Griffin says he is not interested in Wexford post

Liam Griffin has categorically ruled himself out of the running for the Wexford hurling job. Griffin managed Wexford to the All-Ireland title three years ago.

He was commenting on speculation about the vacancy created by the resignation of his successor Rory Kinsella who stepped down as manager on Sunday after three years as manager of the county.

Currently coach to the county minors, Griffin is also very busy with his hotel business.

"I can't take it on, to be honest," he said. "It's very hard to convince Wexford people of this. I'm actually better occupied with the minors and happier with them, I don't want to be senior manager anymore. I believe I can make a better contribution at minor.

"To win at senior level you need a constant flow of quality players. It's an area that needs addressing. Anyone can be a senior manager - okay, that's stupid, but there's no shortage of people who'll want to do it. Very few want to be involved at under-age."

Griffin paid tribute to Kinsella whom he knew well as one of his selectors. "I think he's been a wonderful servant to Wexford hurling. Everyone gets judged on the basis of English Premiership managers but it's completely alien. Inter-county managers don't have access to a transfer market. They make do with what's there.

"Rory gave five years of his life, five of the best years of his life to hurling in the county. In '96, Rory, Seamus Barron and myself worked together and equally. A lot of what we did that year came from Rory.

"He is the most successful and dedicated mentor Wexford ever had, involved in one All-Ireland and two Leinsters. Behind it all, he was a good honest worker and that's the highest praise you can give anyone."

Over the last few weeks leading up to Sunday's comprehensive defeat by Offaly, there had been rumours of disharmony in the Wexford camp. Players went as far as to release a statement denying the rumours. Griffin was involved as he was alleged to have been brought back to try to keep the lid on things.

As a former manager, he had occasionally addressed team meetings and resents what he believes was a campaign to use this to undermine Kinsella.

"You wonder who will want to be an inter-county manager in the future when you see local media slagging off the likes of Rory Kinsella. I had to issue a statement on the matter. I didn't want to, but it was important that I be seen to stand with Rory."

Griffin also believes that the time has come to move on in terms of appointments. "My era and Rory's is passed and I think it's time to draw a line there. There's a sense in the county that several fellas from '96 will now go. But it's not the darkest hour. Things have improved in recent years.

"It may be very hard to find a manager. Maybe we should approach an outsider and start with a blank canvas. But you don't necessarily have to look for a major personality. My appointment was settled in my sitting-room and I don't think anyone left my house thinking `Now, we've cracked it'."

The people charged with cracking it this time won't be in a hurry. According to Wexford County Board secretary Mick Kinsella, the matter won't be addressed until August.

"It'll go to the county board to decide what avenue we go down. The next meeting will be the second week in August. The last time we appointed a sub-committee to look into the matter and come up with a proposal. That's how Liam Griffin was appointed.

"Rory was agreed by the county board as Griffin's successor. There's no agreed candidate this time. It's wide open. The sub-committee looks the safer option and will probably have a recommendation after two meetings or so.

"There's rumours all around the place. This morning (Monday) I met a fella who said he'd heard that Gerald McCarthy (Waterford manager) had the job. He didn't even want to talk about it he was so sure it was in the bag.

"Of course there was no truth in it but because no major candidates are sticking out, there'll be plenty of rumours. There's very few queueing up for these jobs, willing to sacrifice family life."

According to Kinsella, an outside appointment wouldn't be ruled out - "We'll always discuss that option" - and Galway's Cyril Farrell had a stint as manager in 1992.

Among the home-grown names mentioned in connection with the post are recently retired players, George O'Connor and Billy Byrne. Of Sunday's team, the firmest indications are that corner forward Tom Dempsey and full back Ger Cushe are likely to call it a day.

Meanwhile in Down, manager Frank Dawson will remain in charge of the county hurlers despite last Saturday's defeat by Derry at Casement Park. Dawson, in his third year, has been entangled in controversy this season with a number of senior players dropping off the panel.

Down still have a National League play-off, also with Derry, to play before their season concludes. Derry are attempting to gain promotion to Division One at Down's expense. According to James Keenan, of the Down hurling board, no date has been set for this fixture. In relation to the manager's future, he was noncommittal.

"The practice in the county is to review managerial appointments every year and we will get around to that after the play-off. It's hard on managers like Frank and Sean McGuinness before him travelling from Belfast to the Ards but we'll not be making any decision for a while."