Managers left in the dark says Lyons

Dublin manager Tommy Lyons has called on the GAA to improve communications between referees and intercounty managers in order to avoid certain rules becoming the "flavour of the month" in league and championship competitions.

Lyons was discussing aspects of the league that could still be improved at yesterday's launch of the 2002 Allianz Leagues. Cork's Larry Tompkins and Wicklow's John O'Leary also highlighted the problem that currently exist in rule enforcement.

"There isn't enough communication going on with the body of the association that has an input into this issue," said Lyons, "and I do believe that managers and referees should be meeting more, and there should be some sort of forum there every six or eight weeks.

"It may be a question of appointing three or four managers to sit down and have some communications with referees. At the moment all communication with managers is through the grapevine because managers are obviously treated as species that are not recognised in any part of the process.

"For example, we played Westmeath in a challenge last Thursday night and on the exact fourth step the whistle was blown at least 10 or 12 times.

And we played Cavan in a challenge last Sunday and it was the same thing.

"We were told afterwards that referees were getting very strict on the four-step rule. That's the rule and that's fine but we discovered that in challenge matches. But if everyone turns out for the National Leagues and are whistled up for four steps like it was the most important rule in the book then that's going to cause a lot of frustration."

O'Leary feels tackling is a particular problem: "You do have situations where what referees are thinking and managers are thinking and players are thinking are not the same thing. I also think there should be less tinkering with the league and using it as a ground for experiments with certain rules."

There was also a call for greater balance between the two top divisions, with Lyons suggesting they should be rejigged every year.

Lyons will name his team to face Offaly after training this evening. The Na Fianna players are still on a break following their Leinster club campaign while Paddy Christie and Ian Robertson remain on the long-term injury list.

The Kerry team to face Wicklow will definitely not feature Maurice Fitzgerald.

He has yet to rejoin the panel this season and is now unlikely to feature in the league, although manager Páidí Ó Sé is operating an open-ended panel that is likely to see some alterations before the championship.

• Wexford hurler Seán Flood has retired from the game, reports Seán Moran. An All-Ireland medallist in 1996, Flood could play either in the corner or on the wing of the defence. He had a fine season in 1996 but injury forced his withdrawal on the morning of the final.

TG4 NATIONAL LEAGUES SCHEDULE: Feb 3rd: NFL - Donegal v Galway, Ballybofey, 2.30; Feb 10th: NFL - Mayo v Down, Ballina, 2.30; March 3rd: NFL - Dublin v Westmeath, Parnell Park, 2.30; March 10th: NHL - Tipperary v Limerick, Thurles, 2.30; March 18th: NHL - Galway v Clare, 2.30. Continued live coverage will include NHL and NFL semi-finals and finals.