So who's telling the truth?

That’s the fresh crux facing County Board chiefs and striking Cork GAA players after a day of claim and counter-claim regarding one specific alleged demand by representatives of the hurlers and footballers.

Only LRC chief Kieran Mulvey and GAA director general Paraic Duffy possibly know the seriousness or otherwise of the claim that the Cork football representatives agreed to work with Teddy Holland for 2008 on the proviso that he find four new selectors.

The County Board stressed in a statement yesterday that it was a demand they could not comply with.

Said PRO Bob Ryan: “It is important to note that the players during negotiations were prepared to accept Teddy Holland as coach for the year 2008, with a review at the end of the Championship season, but then indicated that they wanted the four selectors appointed by the Board to be removed.

“The removal of the four selectors was unacceptable to the County Board negotiating team.”

The players hit back last night, saying suggestions they were willing to play for Holland were “completely untrue”.

The players statement read: ““Because of the volume of information now in circulation about the recent talks, we feel we should be clear about our position, which has not changed throughout this process: we desperately want to play for Cork but cannot until Teddy Holland and his four selectors – Mick O’Loughlin, Diarmuid O’Donovan, Liam Hodnett and Teddy McCarthy — are no longer in office.

The Board’s statement — which infuriated the players — also confirmed a number of concessions on their part, not least a guarantee to re-examine the football management’s position at the end of this season.

A joint board-players committee was also agreed, and importantly, the Board agreed to recommend to delegates that coaches appointed after this season would again be given the right to choose their own selectors. The seven-person appointment committee for new team management will also feature two current players — another key concession.

The latest war of words should not camouflage the fact that the Cork hurlers will fail to field for the opening round of the National League against All-Ireland champions Kilkenny on Sunday.

“It is an awful situation to be in,” admitted Board spokesperson, Mr Ryan. “We have to hope this situation can be resolved. It is very clear from the statement that we have given an awful lot in these negotiations — much more maybe than we will get support for maybe when the time comes. But we have done it in the best interest of Cork GAA. We’ve done it to get our teams back on the field and we felt it would do that. I’m sorry that it hasn’t.”

He added: “Both Teddy Holland and his selectors were democratically appointed in accordance with the rules of the Association. It deeply regrets the orchestrated media campaign which has personalised the issue in relation to Ted Holland. He is a decent honourable man who has given long and distinguished service to the GAA."