Ó Sé embroiled in ‘resign or be fired’ storm

PAÍDÍ Ó SÉ and Kerry GAA chiefs were embroiled in a bitter war of words last night amid moves to replace him as Kerry coach next season.

The eight-times All-Ireland winner claimed yesterday that he was given a "resign or be fired" ultimatum by County Board chairman Sean Walsh on Thursday.

However, Mr Walsh insisted last night that he had "too much respect" for Ó Sé to speak to him in such a manner though he confirmed that GAA chiefs in the county plan to replace to entire management team for next season.

It's the latest twist in Ó Sé's stormy relationship with the County Board and could spark a sympathetic swell of support for the West Kerry man when Board delegates vote on the matter later this month.

Board bosses disassociated themselves from comments made by Ó Sé in the wake of last year's All-Ireland final defeat by Armagh, and despite a plea from Mr Walsh that he decline a TV interview on the row subsequently in South Africa, the Kerry coach pressed ahead in an unsuccessful attempt to heal a rift with trainer, John O'Keeffe and his selectors.

In a brief statement yesterday, Ó Sé, who led the Kingdom to All-Ireland successes in 1997 and 2000, claimed: "I received a phone call from the Chairman of Coiste Chontae Chiarraí on Thursday evening giving me in effect, the choice of resigning my position as manager of the Kerry Senior football team or of being fired."

Ó Sé added that after many years of unlimited service both as a player and as manager he was extremely upset and hurt by the content of the conversation and by the summary nature in which it was conveyed.

Moves are already afoot to have a proposal for Kerry manager before delegates at the next board meeting, possibly on October 21.

The clear front runner for the Kerry hot-seat is Under 21 coach, Jack O'Connor, though he has yet to publicly declare his interest in the job.