O'Kelly given ultimatum by Offaly resign or be fired

UNDER-PRESSURE Offaly football manager Paul O'Kelly yesterday confirmed that he was given a resign-or-be-fired ultimatum by the Offaly County Board, who were meeting last night to debate the issue.

O'Kelly spoke yesterday of his shock and disappointment, not just at the possible end to his tenure, less than one year into a three-year stint, but that the plans which he had already put in train would now come to naught.

"My understanding, and the basis under which I accepted the job, was this was going to be a three-year programme, with a yearly review to take place after the end of our involvement in the senior championship. We would sit down, look at the plan we had, revise it based on what had gone on - team performance, management performance, the performance of the County Board. The players would form a key part of that consultation process, particularly the more experienced players "After that process, we would use whatever we found was the best standard in every area, see where we could achieve those new standards in terms of facilities, training, all the important areas, put a plan into operation to reflect all that.