Exit sees selectors in limbo
O’Grady made it a condition of his appointment in 2003 that he could pick his own selectors.
Now that the precedent has been set, the new man may want the same working conditions, and there is no guarantee he will want to keep any of the outgoing committee on board.
County Board chairman Jim Forbes said Cork has always operated the system whereby any All-Ireland winning selection committee is entitled to be re-appointed for the following year.
“That has changed now after the county board gave the coach the right to pick his own selectors.
“With a new man coming in for 2005, who’s to say he won’t want his own people with him.
“If that happens it could mean a complete clean-out of people who were involved in this year’s All-Ireland triumph, and that would not be good for the county.
“This year’s team management worked superbly well and what is now needed is the minimum of change in order to maintain continuity.
“There are people within the group ideally suited to take over from Donal, but whether they are prepared to take on the job is something that will have to discussed with them.
“It would be my intention to have a new coach in place sooner rather than later, but the county board won’t be rushed into making a quick decision.”
Seanie O’Leary has been installed as the odds-on favourite to replace O’Grady as the new Cork senior hurling manager by Boylesports bookmakers.
The current selector with the Cork senior team is 10/11 with Boylesports to take over the post.
Next in the betting at 9/4 is Sean O’Brien, who led the Cork intermediate hurlers to All-Ireland glory, and then another Cork selector, John Allen, at 7/2.
Other possible candidates include Timmy Murphy and John Considine, both at 5/1 and Teddy McCarthy, Denis Ring, Tomas Mulcahy and Bernie O’Connor all at 8/1.
