Holland forces board into final push

TEDDY HOLLAND’s brief if controversial reign as Cork football manager will end tonight — though not with the resignation county board chiefs had hoped for.

Holland and his selectors had “amicable” two-hour talks with members of the board’s executive yesterday, with board spokesman Bob Ryan claiming an “agreement” had been reached between the parties.

However, the board will have to secure approval from their delegates at a meeting at Páirc Ui Chaoimh tonight to formally end the involvement of Teddy Holland and the four selectors.

Mr Ryan said last night that the protracted saga was within hours of conclusion, but he was unsure whether it would be necessary to vote on the matter at tonight’s meeting.

Mr Holland had sought “closure” on the row in a TV interview on Saturday, but neither he nor his selectors — Diarmuid O’Donovan, Mick O’Loughlin, Liam Hodnett or Teddy McCarthy — believe they have any reason to resign.

Mr Ryan said on RTÉ: “The end of this impasse is within hours. Enough people have suffered. They deserve closure.”

Board chiefs could face lingering opposition tonight to final implementation of LRC chief Kieran Mulvey’s binding arbitration, which recommended the coaching staff step aside. Delegates gave their backing to the Mulvey document on Saturday, but support for Holland may be voiced tonight.

Plans to put a new football management team in place are already under way, with All-Ireland winning U21 coach Tony Leahy a leading contender to replace Holland.