End of the road for Ford

SLIGO All-Star Eamon O’Hara says manager Peter Ford, who resigned as team boss yesterday, cannot be held to blame for the county’s disappointing showing in this year’s Bank of Ireland Football Championship.

"As players, we took the praise last year when we did well, and this year we must take the blame. The buck has to stop with the players. We didn't play well this year, and there was nothing more Peter Ford could have done in our preparations," O'Hara said last night.

"I have nothing but admiration for Peter. We had great times under him. I admire his straight-talking approach, and his whole professional attitude.

"He brought Sligo football to a level none of the current team had seen before, and it's just a pity that it has come to an end earlier than we had hoped.

"He was excellent in everything he did. He was working off a small pool of players, but he read the team very well and he got a lot out of the team.

Shortly before we played Mayo in the championship, we annihilated Limerick and I really thought we were going places."

Ford stood down as team boss yesterday after a three-year term of extraordinary highs and lows and the Mayo native is bitterly disappointed that last year's promise has come to nought this season.

But he has many happy memories from his stint. "The highlight, I suppose, was the win over Kildare two years ago. That was the first time Sligo had ever won a game in Croke Park ," said Ford.

"And then there was the win over Tyrone last year, and the drawn game against Armagh. The replay in Navan was special too, in that you had so many Sligo people there and they gave the team a great reception even after they lost."

Meanwhile, attacker Dessie Sloyan has denied that disharmony between players and management might have led to Ford's resignation.

There had been suggestions following the defeat by Mayo that all was not well in the Sligo camp and fuel is sure to be added to such rumours by Ford's departure. The Mayo man announced his departure as the team bus arrived at the Sligo Park Hotel on Sunday night.

But Sloyan was adamant that this was a misreading of the situation.

"The only thing I can think of was the thing with Brendan Phillips who was dropped off the panel and then brought back on. That was between Brendan and Peter but Brendan apologised and when he came back there wasn't another word about it. Kieran Quinn went off the panel because he had exams and then he was injured but the media wanted to blow that up as well.

"There wasn't a bad word between anyone on the panel. The players all got together for a few pints on Sunday night and as far as I'm concerned Peter Ford is a terrible loss. But we always knew he'd be going when we were knocked out of this year's championship. He said last year he'd give it just one more year. The only pity is that he went out on such a bad note and so early in the season."

Sloyan admitted the management came in for a certain amount of criticism in the county after Sunday's disappointing display but said that when the dust settles Ford will be remembered as a great manager.

"Whoever replaces Peter Ford has big boots to fill," he said.

And the forward was also incensed by the contention that Sunday's defeat marks the end of Sligo as an inter-county force.

The average age of the team is only 25 or 26 and we haven't been on the go that long. We only really got going when Mickey Moran was manager and most of the current team were just out of Under 21 at that stage.

There's a thin line between good and bad and simple mistakes cost us a lot this year. If players don't lose heart Sligo can make an impact next year."

Sligo chairman, Joe Queenan, described the resignation as "the end of an era".

"We can all be critics but Peter Ford's record speaks for itself. He raised the bar in this county and our exploits in Croke Park this past two years will never be forgotten.

"I was not surprised by his decision as he did say he would leave if there were no trophies this year.

"It has been a very disappointing year and nothing went right despite the enormous effort and resources put in. Last year it cost 170,000 to run the county senior team. That is a huge figure and we will be taking it into consideration when we appoint a successor. There won't be any decision until September.

Finding a successor for Ford may take Sligo outside the county again.

Local names who might be considered are successful club managers Neil Egan (Tourlestrane) and Denis Johnston (Eastern Harps).