CONNACHT rugby yesterday suffered a major and surprising setback with the resignation of Eddie O'Sullivan as coach to the senior provincial side. The resignation came on the eve of the departure to Sweden of the Connacht team for a two-match tour.

O'Sullivan is rightly regarded as one of the best coaches in the country and last season coached the Ireland under-21 team to Triple Crown success.

His resignation is all the more unfortunate as this season Connacht will be taking part in European competition for the first time. Connacht will be Ireland's representatives in the new European Conference.

O'Sullivan was unable to resolve contractual difficulties with the branch and, in the interests of the security and well-being of his family, he felt he had no alternative but to resign. He informed the Branch yesterday morning of his intention to resign and last-minute efforts yesterday afternoon failed to resolve the problems.

Michael Cosgrave, who has been assistant coach to O'Sullivan, will take over the coaching position for the tour to Sweden.

Confirming his resignation yesterday, O'Sullivan said: "I have today resigned as coach to the Connacht senior interprovincial team. I was unable to reach agreement with the Connacht Branch on the contractual issues necessary in the new `open era' in rugby.

"Since my re-appointment as coach at the end of last season, the situation of the interprovincial coach has changed dramatically. The extra time occasioned by the warm-up matches, the interprovincial series and the European Conference have placed constraints on me that would necessitate giving up my job as a teacher. This added an extra dimension to the decision about my future. The financial well-being of my family became an important issue.

"The outstanding contractual issues did not involve money. The financial package offered was satisfactory. The Branch was, however, unable to accommodate me in other issues that I felt important.

"We were, in the negotiations, up against an immovable deadline of the tour to Sweden and the start of the school year. I received an offer from the Connacht Branch on August 15th. I replied, with my reservations, the same day. Although I was on a holiday cum-coaching trip to the USA until last Monday, I had many discussions by telephone and communications by fax with Billy Glynn, the chairman of the Connacht selectors. At all times the Connacht Branch conducted the negotiations with sympathy and integrity.

"In the new professional world we live in, everyone is learning. Difficulties such as mine are merely part of that experience. I am very sorry to sever my connections with Connacht after six year's involvement as assistant coach and then coach."

O'Sullivan was at one time a development officer with the IRFU and fitness adviser to the Ireland side. He was assistant coach to George Hook with the Connacht side before taking over as coach last season, when Connacht had major problems after losing no fewer than 11 players through injury and defections to other provinces.

Nonetheless O'Sullivan coached the side to two notable wins, over Fiji and the South African provincial side Griqualand West. He then went on to coach the Ireland under-21 side to Triple Crown success.

Apart from his exploits with the Ireland under-21 team, O'Sullivan spent two very successful years as coach to Blackrock College in the All Ireland League. The club lost the title in the last match of the league to Garryowen three years ago. A teacher in the Holy Rosary College in Mountbellew, O'Sullivan took over as coach to Galwegians last season and combined that with his coaching duties with Connacht and the national under-21 team.

Commenting on O'Sullivan's departure, Connacht chairman Glynn said: "We must live with it. Obviously we are very disappointed. The timing is very fortunate from our point of view, especially as we now have some very fine young new players in the squad. I respect Eddie's decision and there is absolutely no ill feeling. He has given Connacht rughy very good service."

Prop forward John Maher has withdrawn from the touring party because of a family bereavement. His place will be taken by Oliver Ennis (Skerries). Glynn also said that there had been some misunderstanding over the omission of Noel Mannion from the panel. "The reason for his omission is that he had told us he was not available," he said.