Carr blasts unrealistic demand on bosses

UNREALISTIC expectations are helping to create the growing environment of abuse towards managers, according to Tommy Carr, one of John Maughan’s predecessors in Roscommon.

As Carr knows only too well, there are a myriad of means in which a manager’s days in charge can come to and end.

Player unrest led to his exit from Roscommon, while he was voted out of the Dublin position by the county board, despite enjoying the backing of the panel.

With more and more money being pumped into the preparation of county — and club — teams in recent years, demand for success has escalated and the Tipperary native believes the majority of people need to get real.

“There’s no doubt but that, in most counties, expectation exceeds the resources available and the ability and talent available,” Carr told RTÉ.

“That is one of the problems. It is all fuelled by a media as there is no doubt Gaelic games, both nationally and locally, has got huge coverage over the last few years. All it does is amplify the problems that exist.”

Like Maughan, Carr believes the weight of expectation and level of criticism that could potentially follow will result in a shortfall of people willing to put their necks on the line.

“Despite all the rumours, the majority of managers are not making money out of the GAA and people should get that out of their heads.

“They are doing it for the love of the game and because they love working with players and the challenge. The GAA is going to have a serious problem getting quality people.”

Maughan claimed there had been an orchestrated campaign to oust him, calling those responsible a “mob” and Carr backed up his old army colleague yesterday.

Calling the treatment meted out to Maughan as “verbal assault”, he pointed out that the county board had continued to support their manager, even though the team had become uncompetitive.

Carr stated that the problem is a growing one that must be addressed.

“I understand even on a Roscommon website there was a group being organised for (the Dublin game) Parnell Park on Saturday night to further exasperate the situation.

“We all have stood on sidelines where we have been abused or where we have had stuff thrown at us but it is a sad situation. I spoke to John and he said he literally couldn’t get out of the dugout with what was happening.

“He couldn’t bring his son or wife to the game. Off the cuff comments are always made but it is the orchestrated barrage of abuse that made his position untenable.”

Meanwhile, the Roscommon senior panel released a statement yesterday thanking Maughan and his selectors Eamon McManus and Gerry Fitzmaurice for their efforts over the past three seasons.

“It is with regret at this stage of the year that we part company with a management team who have sacrificed so much of their lives and given so much effort to develop and improve the current Roscommon team,” it read.

“Never once in the last number of years could we question their hunger and desire to bring success and pride to the county.

“Although we have not achieved or played in the manner that may be expected, it should be noted that the management team were extremely courageous in taking control at a point when Roscommon football was experiencing difficult times, and, considering this, nothing can be taken away from their track records.”

The players thanked the “loyal Roscommon support for their continued and unflinching dedication throughout the recent period” and asked them to continue backing the players in the months to come.