LIAM HAYES was installed as Carlow football manager late last night and immediately warned that everybody in the county would have to stand up and be examined by the end of the year.

Paul O'Kelly has re-emerged as the favourite to be appointed the new Carlow football manager.

CARLOW GAA chairman Eddie Byrne has laughed off reports that a local business consortium is prepared to invest €1m over five years to improve the county’s football and hurling fortunes, saying the figure is closer to €100,000.

Offlay football has hit yet another low in the space of 48 hours - the Faithful County's senior players have issued a statement this afternoon, withdrawing their services for next season.

IT’S a sign of the times when 24-year-old Karol Slattery is described as one of the senior members on the Offaly football team.

CIARAN McMANUS has defended the structure of the Allianz NFL despite criticism that the latter stages of the competition were impinging on teams’ preparations for the All-Ireland championship.

Former Offaly manager Paul O'Kelly has moved quickly to rule himself out of the running for the vacant Carlow football manager's position.

The dispute in Offaly football following the axing of boss Paul O'Kelly is still not over with Edenderry players issuing a statement backing their club colleague.

Sacked Offaly football boss Paul O'Kelly will return to the inter-county scene in a matter of months as an advisor to an unnamed outfit.

LARRY TOMPKINS has laughed off suggestions that he is poised to take over as football manager in Tipperary.

Former Offaly football manager Paul O'Kelly has emerged as a candidate to take over from Tom McGlinchey in the Tipperary football hotseat - just weeks after being ousted by Offaly.

Roscommon man Gerry Fahey has been entrusted with the job of leading Offaly football out of its dark spell and into the light after being appointed as the county's new senior manager.

Skipper Cathal Daly has dismissed suggestions that the Offaly footballers are on the verge of strike action following the controversial sacking of former boss Paul O'Kelly.

WITH the management of their hurling teams in turmoil, a course in crisis management would appear to be a priority for the County Boards of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.

Former Westmeath boss Luke Dempsey has denied that he was lined up weeks in advance to take over from axed Offaly football manager Paul O'Kelly.

Former Offaly football manager Paul O'Kelly has described his sacking after just eight months in the job as a "devastating personal blow" and blamed it on "local politics."

Luke Dempsey has wasted no time in nailing his colours to the mast by declaring his interest in succeeding Paul O'Kelly as Offaly football boss.

PLAYER backing for ousted Offaly football manager Paul O’Kelly has grown since he was controversially sacked on Tuesday night.

Offaly football secretary Jim Buckley has resigned from his position in protest at the controversial axing of senior football manager Paul O'Kelly just eight months after he was appointed.

Paul O'Kelly was last night deposed as Offaly senior football manager after receiving a vote of no confidence by the county board during a tense meeting.

UNDER-PRESSURE Offaly football manager Paul O'Kelly yesterday confirmed that he was given a resign-or-be-fired ultimatum by the Offaly County Board, who were meeting last night to debate the issue.

Offaly's top football players have come out strongly in defence of their manager Paul O'Kelly.

Boss Paul O'Kelly and his selectors have made a single change to the Offaly lineup ahead of Saturday night's crunch qualifier against Roscommon in Mullingar.

OFFALY’S rousing display last week in Portlaoise may not have come as any big surprise given their annual competitiveness, but for many, the sight of a handful of fresh-faced kids running around in the distinctive green, white and gold was.

AN intriguing little managerial battle will be waged on the sidelines of Portlaoise tomorrow.

Offaly have opted for experience in their bid to put one over midland rivals Laois in Sunday's Leinster SFC clash at Portlaoise.

Offaly have injury worries surrounding four players ahead of Sunday's Leinster SFC derby clash with Laois at O'Moore Park.

There were wins today for Kildare, Dublin and Wexford in the quarter-finals of the O'Byrne Cup, while the Meath-Longford clash didn't go ahead due to a frozen pitch.

New Offaly boss Paul O'Kelly has put in place a three year plan to bring success back to the Faithful county.

Business Correspondent

Recently installed Offaly football boss Paul O'Kelly has added Tubber man John Moran to his backroom team along with Eddie Fleming and Kieran Gavin.

Paul O'Kelly has been appointed Offaly senior football boss a week earlier than expected.

Paul O'Kelly looks set to take over as Offaly Senior football boss.