Dublin GAA chiefs deny row took place in interview with Mullins

DUBLIN GAA chiefs have issued a statement refuting a claim published in a Sunday newspaper concerning Brian Mullins’ interview for the county’s vacant senior football manager post.

According to the paper, Mullins "stormed out" of the meeting after being asked about five questions by Dublin County Board chairman John Bailey. The board have denied that any disagreement occurred at any stage during the interview, which they say lasted for 90 minutes. The matter is now in the hands of their legal advisers.

"The Dublin County Committee totally refute an allegation in Ireland on Sunday, October 31st 2004 edition, relating to a story concerning Brian Mullins' interview for the position of Dublin senior football team manager," began the statement from county secretary John Costello.

"At no stage during the interview or since did any disagreement take place between Brian Mullins and the sub-committee comprising John Bailey, John Costello, Gerry Harrington and John McNicholas.

"The cordial interview lasted approximately 90 minutes. The matter has been placed in the hands of our legal advisers."

Another claim in the Ireland on Sunday newspaper suggesting that certain members of the squad would decline to train under Mullins, should he be elected, have also been discounted over the last 48 hours.

The reasoning behind that claim was apparently a no-holds barred address given by Mullins to the panel on Tommy Lyons' invitation in the week leading up to the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Kerry this summer. However, a number of players have since stated off the record that this was simply not the case.

"Brian came out with what he saw to be a few home truths, but the lads didn't have any great problem with any of it," one player said yesterday. "This rumour has been hanging around for a good while, but I don't know of any players saying that in the last few weeks." Yet, even with all that cleared up, the prospect of Dublin appointing a new manager appears as distant as ever. A name was expected to be put before next Monday's county board meeting, but it is now believed that the committee has yet to make a concrete decision on the names they will be recommending to delegates.

If that is the case, it will now be early December at the earliest before a new manager is unveiled to replace Tommy Lyons.

With more counties returning to training every week, Dublin are looking to appoint someone with the task of taking the players for training on a temporary basis until such a time as the current impasse can be resolved.