Players come out fighting for Carr

The Dublin senior football squad yesterday gave their full support for Tom Carr and his management team. The statement follows a Dublin county board management committee meeting on Wednesday when a vote was taken against Carr continuing as manager. The committee divided 4-3 against Carr seeing out the second year of a two-year term.

The statement, which was heavily critical of county chairman John Bailey, included an appeal to all delegates to support Carr at Monday's full meeting of the county board.

The following is part of the statement issued by the Dublin Senior Football team:

Given the shambolic nature of the Management Committee of the Dublin County Board's decision not to recommend Tom Carr and his management team for another season in charge we, the Dublin players, feel obliged to respond publicly in a bid to reverse the move and to highlight the lack of integrity in the due process.

The players' support for Tom Carr and his selectors is total and unequivocal. The effort made by this sideline team on behalf of Dublin football has been monumental. Having taken charge during a transitionary and turbulent period they have now solid foundations in place on which to built and continue the development of the squad. What Dublin football doesn't need at this juncture is an upheaval created by officials in a smoke-filled room.

What is most galling for us, the players, is the way our county chairman, John Bailey, has spoken publicly and to the Dublin panel of his passionate support for Tom Carr while behind the scenes voting to recommend his removal from the position. . . . . . .