Leeside officials hit back at players
The statement reiterated the board’s belief that “it adhered fully to the terms of the Mulvey arbitration of last year including two players being on the 2008 appointments committees and the managers appointed having the right to pick their own selectors” adding that the process leading to the appointment of Gerald McCarthy was “similar to that which led to the appointment of the Cork senior football manager, Conor Counihan”.
The statement details the five meetings of the appointment committee: at the first it was decided unanimously that McCarthy would be asked if he was interested in being re-appointed, with three officers of the County Committee meeting him, when he indicated his interest.
That interest was conveyed to the second meeting of the appointment committee and was “well received” by the players, according to the statement, which adds: “It was only at the third meeting, when a motion to recommend the reappointment of Gerald McCarthy was proposed and seconded, that a suggestion of opposition to him first arose.”
The players required that “a process should involve the selection of five people, including Gerald McCarthy, to be interviewed and to be asked to put forward a ‘Management Package’.
“The members of the county committee on the appointment committee were not favourable to this and were of the opinion that the process that had been operated on several occasions in the past and notably in the more recent appointments of the football manager should be followed.
“This involved the committee determining who first was to be offered the position, and if that man accepted, then this was the end of the process. If he did not accept, then the Appointment Committee would consider and determine the next person in line to be offered the post.”
The statement outlines the executive’s unwillingness to engage in interviewing potential managers, adding it “was for the manager to select his selectors and backroom team”, as the players struck on that issue last year.
At the fifth meeting “the motion to recommend the appointment ... was taken. Although the names of other people had been mentioned briefly at a previous meeting, no other candidate was proposed, although the chairman invited other proposals. Gerald McCarthy received five votes. The players’ representatives did not vote and left the meeting.”
McCarthy was duly appointed manager on October 12th and the statement rejects suggestions the process was rushed: “The process of appointments had been decided upon by the County Committee on 16th September. The Appointments (Hurling and Football) were made on 21st October i.e. five weeks later.”
The statement adds that board officers have made “a number of unsuccessful efforts to have talks to resolve the impasse”, and outlines the mediation process approved by the county convention on the 13th December, chaired by solicitor Olann Kelleher, adding that in the Kelleher talks there was “an understanding that there would be no votes involved at any point in the mediation process that would put the player representatives at a disadvantage”.
“They rejected the efforts of the Independent chairman, Olann Kelleher, to try to achieve a solution and also indicated that they would not meet under any independent chairman.
“On Tuesday 27th January, the Central Council of our Association offered to assist to try to break the impasse. The Central Council required that this process remain confidential. Efforts were made to try to find a solution but without success. The officers deeply regret the failure of this latest genuine initiative to bring this dispute to an amicable conclusion.”
The board also released chairman Jerry O’Sullivan’s detailed timeline of events related to the talks chaired by Olann Kelleher.
Sequence of Events since County Convention 13/12/08
*Monday December 15th - Officers appointed myself and Vice- Chairman Bob Ryan as County Board Representatives at the process.
*Wednesday 17th December - Derry Gowen (President) invited Players, County Board Officers and Team Manager to each suggest three names as an Independent Chairman.
*By Friday 19th December - The Officers and the Team Manager had separately each submitted three names. The Players, through the 2008 Captain John Gardiner, informed Derry Gowen that they would come back to him after a meeting on Sunday December 21st.
*Tuesday, December 23rd.- Despite reminder phone calls, no contact was made by the Players until around 11 am on Tuesday, December 23rd. No name of a potential Independent Chairman was supplied by the Players.
The President indicated that he would allow a submission up to midday, after which he would announce an Appointment. No submission was made.
*In the circumstances, the President decided not to select anyone from the lists submitted by the County Board Officers or Team Manager, and informed all parties that he was appointing Mr. Olann Kelleher, Solicitor as the Independent Chairman.
*The President, on request, gave clarification to John Gardiner, that the process did not involve Voting.
*Tuesday 30th December - Officer Representatives met with Independent Chairman Olann Kelleher. Mr. Kelleher stated that he had met with Players Representatives John Gardiner and Donal Og Cusack on the previous day and intended meeting Gerald McCarthy on the following day.
We understand that each of these three meetings lasted about 2 hours - as the Independent Chairman explored the background and potential for a solution. Mr. Kelleher told the Officers that the Players Representatives wished him to inform them that the Players Representatives were not prepared to meet Gerald McCarthy 'face to face' at the process. Mr. Kelleher stated that the would be inviting all three parties to Meetings over the week-end, but in view of the Players reservations, he would not be having all three parties together, at least initially.
*Sunday 4th January - All three parties attended a City Venue for talks with the Independent Chairman on Sunday 4th January. Mr. Kelleher met with the Officers Representatives and the Players Representatives together. The discussion dealt with a review of proceedings of the Appointment Committee Meetings, without reaching a search for a solution. Mr. Kelleher then held a separate Meeting with the Players Representatives. Mr. Kelleher informed the Officers Representatives subsequently that he had asked the Players' Representatives what proposals he might put to Gerald McCarthy with a view to breaking the impasse. The Players Representatives claimed that they had not been informed that Gerald McCarthy was to be present and they walked out of the talks. Mr. Kelleher informed the Officers that he had in fact informed the Players Representatives that all parties would be present but not all together at one time, in the light of the reservations of the Players Representatives.
*The Players subsequently informed the Media that they were only willing to talk under Olann Kelleher if Gerald McCarthy and his team management were excluded.
*Thursday 8th January - I as the county chairman, in a serious attempt to revive the talks, issued an Open Letter to the Players via the Media inviting all 30 players, the Team Management and the Members of the Board Executive to a Meeting under the Independent Chairmanship of Olann Kelleher - a process for which Mr. Kelleher had given his agreement.
*I contacted John Gardiner and proposed that the Meeting be held on Saturday morning 17th January. John Gardiner originally suggested that this may be suitable but subsequently suggested that it may be Sunday 18th. I was later informed that some of the Players would be away and that the Meeting would be on Sunday 25th January at the earliest. John Gardiner also informed me that the Players did not want any new members of the Team management to attend the talks. Gerald McCarthy was informed of this and he insisted that all his Team Management should be present.
I conveyed this position to John Gardiner.
*Thursday 15th January -Meanwhile Mr. Olann Kelleher was liaisoning with all three parties with a view to establishing a structure for the Meeting. He informed the Officers that he had spoken to Donal Og Cusack on Thursday 15th January with a view to a preparatory Meeting. Donal Og Cusack informed him that the Players were having a meeting on that night and that he would come back to him on the following day. Donal Og Cusack did not come back to Mr. Kelleher.
*After Midnight on 16th January - John Gardiner phoned me and informed him that the Players considered that the Meeting should not be chaired by Mr. Olann Kelleher (subsequently clarified as not being agreeable to any Independent Chairman). The Players were agreeable to a Meeting of Players, Officers and Team Management, without an Independent Chairman.
*Sunday 18th January - The Officers of the County Board met as a body on four occasions to consider matters relating to the process. The Officers met on Sunday 18th January and were of the opinion that the talks should be held on Monday 26th January and under the Independent Chairman of Mr.
Kelleher - as determined by County Convention. Based on various reports, there was not confidence in a Meeting reaching a solution without an Independent Chairman.
*Monday 19th January - Mr. Olann Kelleher who was informed of the Players' objection to an Independent Chairman informed the Officers that if this was confirmed by the Players, then he had no option but to withdraw.
On that date I contacted John Gardiner and informed him that the Officer Board wanted the talks to take place by Monday 26th and that the talks be chaired by the Independent Chairman, Olann Kelleher. John Gardiner again restated the Players' opposition to Mr. Kelleher or any Independent Chairman as it was an internal matter. I insisted that an Independent Chairman was essential. I pointed out that I was in an invidious position as I was involved with one party (the County Board) and I had two sons on the Players Panel. I asked John to consult his colleagues and it was agreed that this would be done and that John would report back by 10.30 a.m. on the following morning. John Gardiner also had mentioned previously that the Players had some proposals. I asked him to inform me of the proposals so that they could be considered but I received no response to this request.
*On Tuesday 20th - John Gardiner confirmed to me that the Players objection to an Independent Chairman persisted. I informed John that the Officers would be issuing a Statement and would be reporting to the County Committee Meeting on 27th January on the failure of the initiative decided upon by the County Convention.
Mr. Olann Kelleher was contacted by me and informed of the Players position. Mr. Kelleher then contacted all three parties and informed them of his resignation.
*The Officers issued a Media Statement outlining the basic facts of the situation and asking Players to reconsider their positions.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
