Lacey says decision to go not tied to manager

DONEGAL defender Karl Lacey insists his decision to leave the county squad next season is not linked to the managerial controversy that has gripped the county this month.

Lacey featured in Ulster’s defeat to Munster in Saturday’s Interprovincial Football semi-final — his last game of football before he departs for New Zealand next month.

He said: “I’m heading off and I’ve no regrets about going away. I made my decision a few weeks ago before all this happened. Some people are saying that I’m walking away from it all. That may be the way it looks but all the lads on the panel know the way that it is and they just accept my decision.