Hogan wanted another year

AXED Tipperary hurling manager Ken Hogan asked for one more year in charge to develop the young talent in the county.

Hogan said yesterday he was "rising above what has happened" as county board chiefs began the task of replacing the All-Ireland winning goalkeeper.

The board are unlikely to go outside the county for a new coach.

Hogan said he was very disappointed not to be reappointed for a third year.

"Fortunately I was involved in a lot of very good times with Tipperary. I had expressed a desire to stay on for another year as we had brought in a lot of new players and I felt another year was needed to bring them on.

"There are a lot of very good lads, not too far off an All-Ireland final, and while a number of them may have been dropped or called up over the course of my time in charge, the one thing they all wanted to do was to playing hurling for Tipperary.

"Following the hullabaloo last year in Galway, Conor Hayes was given a third year. I made no secret of the fact that I wanted the same, but at the same time I didn't want to outstay my welcome either.

"When the phone call came on Wednesday night I knew my time was up. It's disappointing to end this way. What people may not realise is that I didn't want the job in the first place.

"I certainly didn't go looking for it, but the county board were in a bit of a bind at the time. I had a young family to look after and I gave up a lot of time to help the county out, not for my good but for the good of Tipperary hurling."

Paudie Butler, who has resigned as Laois manger, may well be in the frame, along with another Tipp man, former Antrim manager Dinny Cahill.

Former successful managers Babs Keating and Nicky English will be linked with the position, although their friendship with Hogan may rule them out.

Both English (2001) and Keating (1989 and 1991) steered the county to All-Ireland glory.

Paddy McCormack, who enjoyed a lot of success as a minor level with the county in recent years, could also come into contention, having worked with several of the current senior squad.

County secretary Michael O'Brien said Hogan had been a loyal servant of Tipperary hurling, both on and off the field.

"He gave his all as a minor, U21 and senior player and when his playing career finished he took on team management. I would like to thank him most sincerely for his contribution."

In a county where success is demanded, Hogan's team's failure to beat Galway in this year's All-Ireland semi-final after surrendering an eight point lead provoked an angry reaction within the county. It also led to an unprecedented statement from the county board regarding rumours that swept the county in the wake of the defeat.

The failure of a highly-rated county minor team to Limerick in the first round, U21 (going for a third Munster title in-a-row), intermediate and senior teams in the provincial finals, caused questions to be asked in the county whether the right people were in charge.

The senior defeat and the subsequent fall-out provoked the county board into unanimously accepting a recommendation from its executive that an entire new team management be appointed for 2006.

An eight man sub committee, led by county board chairman Donie Shanahan, is now charged with picking that new management and will present the names to the next meeting of the county board at the end of the month.