Ugly abuse proves too much for Maughan

ROSCOMMON FOOTBALL:IT WAS the "extremely ugly" level of abuse from Roscommon supporters that effectively ended John Maughan's reign as county football manager. With both the Roscommon County Board and the football panel yesterday stating their regret at the circumstances that resulted in his resignation on Monday night, Maughan is possibly the first GAA manager to surrender his position solely on the basis of such abuse.

Roscommon moved swiftly last night to announce the appointment of Paul Earley as temporary manager for Saturday's NFL game against Dublin at Parnell Park and the final league match against Cavan on Sunday week.

County chairman Séamus Maher expressed his resentment at the nature of abuse vented by "so-called supporters", with the football panel issuing a separate statement to outline their disappointment at the timing of Maughan's resignation.

It's a worrying new departure for the GAA when a manager suddenly steps down mid-season, still with the backing of the county board as well as the players, yet Maughan has admitted he was virtually hounded out of the position by the vitriolic mood of certain Roscommon supporters, despite having every intention of seeing out his third year as manager.

He described that mood after last Sunday's defeat to Westmeath as "extremely ugly", and it was just as bad when Roscommon also suffered a heavy defeat to Armagh.

While they remain with just one draw from five games, at no stage was there any such call for his removal from either the county board or the football panel.

"We accepted his resignation on Monday night, but with huge regret," said Maher. "John Maughan is a fine man, and a fine manager, and from day one has been very courageous with his job in Roscommon. I have the height of respect for him. You couldn't come across a nicer guy.

"His two selectors Eamon McManus and Gerry Fitzmaurice stepped down with him, so we are now trying to get someone in for the remainder of the league, and possibly the rest of the season. Of course we will be fulfilling the fixture against Dublin on Saturday. There was never any suggestion otherwise. We're in constant communication to get a temporary replacement for the rest of the campaign, and we will have someone for this Saturday."

The Roscommon panel issued their own statement yesterday, thanking Maughan, McManus and Fitzmaurice for their contribution and commitment to Roscommon over the last three years - but also highlighting their full support for his effort right up to last Sunday.

"It is with regret at this stage of the year that we part company with a management team who have sacrificed so much of their lives and given so much effort to develop and improve the current Roscommon team," they said.

"Never once in the last number of years could we question their hunger and desire to bring success and pride to the county. Although we have not achieved or played in the manner that may be expected, it should be noted that the management team were extremely courageous in taking control at a point when Roscommon football was experiencing difficult times, and considering this, nothing can be taken away from the track records of the people involved."

The players' statement thanked "the loyal Roscommon support for their continued and unflinching dedication throughout the recent period and ask them now to support and get behind the players, who want nothing other than to bring success back to our county".

Earlier yesterday, Maughan reiterated his extreme unease with the nature of abuse suffered after last Sunday's game in Kiltoom: "I cannot comprehend a more ugly position to be in than being on the sideline managing the Roscommon team over the last two National League games, and having to listen to the personal abuse and the obscenities that were thrown at me, the team, and my selectors.

"After the game an unruly mob gathered around the entrance to the clubrooms at Kiltoom and quite clearly they wanted my head. The whole experience became extremely difficult for all concerned with the team but I told my players after the match that I was not going to abandon them despite our difficulties because we still have two games left in the league and we are only six weeks away from the start of the Connacht Championship. And they asked me not to give in to the mob and I assured them that I would remain on. But there comes a time when you can only take so much of this vitriolic abuse like that hurled at us in our last two games."

Maher also criticised the abusive fans. "These are the 'so-called supporters' and we have a lot of good supporters in Roscommon as well. What went on in Kiltoom last Sunday was unacceptable, and the vilification of the players on the field was downright disgraceful.

"As far as we can see these supporters are not members of any club in the county. These people don't seem to accept that it's a very young team with 11 of our panel on the under-21 team. But John was going to give them that time to get stronger and more experienced and I'm extremely sorry to see him go because he has done a great job in the two years."