Cusack: this isn’t just about Gerald
The origins of the dispute ‘lie firmly’ in the actions of the Cork panel seven years ago when a stand was taken against the county board executive to improve preparation standards and conditions, he writes in a letter which the GPA has circulated to inform players in the 32 counties ‘of the facts.’
“Since 2002, the Cork hurling public and indeed the GAA public at large has been misled by a Cork executive driven by agenda to take back ‘control’ at all or any cost,’’ he states.
And, reacting to the latest development at official level — where clubs gave McCarthy an overwhelming vote of support at Tuesday night’s County Board meeting — he says they have called on club members ‘to take back control of the GAA in their county.’
“In the meantime, we will not yield to the latest attempt by the Cork County Board executive to ride roughshod over our principles. We have the courage of our convictions to see that through no matter what happens.’’
In a lengthy statement, Cusacksuggests that McCarthy has been in ‘a compromised position’ since his re-appointment, being supported by the executive and engaged over the last two months in ‘an unedifying PR battle, opening and closing the door on the panel and issuing personalised attacks on certain individual players.’
Stating that the 2002 group stood up to ‘severe intimidation by certain officials,’ Cusack says they did so because of their strong belief that, ‘in the pursuit of excellence, an excellent environment must first be created.’
“In the eyes of a number of officials, we had committed an act of treason and they have taken every opportunity since then to undermine and divide the squad.”
Addressing what he describes as ‘misleading spin,’ he says that far from being unreasonable, the players are passionate, committed hurling men who are united in their stand to ensure that the best standards are applied to every element of their preparation. He added that they have the courage of their convictions ‘to see that through no matter what happens.’
He rejects the claim that younger players (approached to play for Cork) have been subjected to intimidation by senior members of the (’08) panel, adding that everything they do and say is arrived at by consensus.
“We have no delusions about who we are or what we’re about. We make no secret about our ambition to win for Cork but we do not complain when mistakes are made or games are lost. When there is a better team against us, we will be defeated. All we have sought since 2002 is that there is a genuine intention in our county to work together for one purpose. Yet again, the Cork County Board executive under the leadership of secretary Frank Murphy has ensured that this cannot happen.”
Cusack states that having entered the process of appointing a hurling manager for 2009 in good faith, they soon came to the conclusion it was ‘a sham.’
Privately, they expressed their reservations about McCarthy after his two years in charge, pointing out that ‘they said nothing’ during this period, despite the team’s ‘shortcomings.’
“However, our views were ignored and the board decided to push ahead and reappoint the manager, without any contest. As we had attended meetings, the board believed we had ‘technically’ engaged in the process and ploughed on with the ratification.
“Out of respect to Gerald, we met him in private and expressed the views of the panel to him in person and in private. We explained that we no longer had confidence in him as a manager. We also told him we believed he was being used by the board executive to further their agenda. He rejected our views.
“The Cork panel informed the board on numerous occasions that the only man we did not want as manager was Gerald McCarthy. Their response was to reappoint him immediately.’’
He explains that as a result of the board executive’s decision, they had been forced to criticise McCarthy, but only in relation to his ability as coach and manager. They had not spoken about his business interests, his interest or ‘his personal traits.’ Cusack says that McCarthy ‘did not afford certain members of their panel the same respect.’
He repeated that if the support of the Cork hurling public is not forthcoming the panel will disband and every player will have the freedom ‘to return’ if he wishes. And, he says that they ‘do not and will not’ hold any ill-feeling towards those who return or those currently involved with the Cork set-up.’
“As players, we have been proud to represent our clubs and our county with the very best of our efforts. Whether those efforts include the principled stands we have taken over the past six years is now for the Cork people to decide. If the Cork GAA members are happy with the current county board situation then so be it. If not, then the time has come for them to end this ridiculous series of disputes.’’
He emphasised that they ‘did not want to choose their own manger, did not want to cause trouble or difficulties and did not want to sully the name of Cork GAA.’
Meanwhile, 2008 captain John Gardiner has stressed the importance of their planned meeting with club chairmen next Sunday night, explaining: “this is the last chance for the genuine hurling people to find out why we’re taking this stance first-hand. We will live by the decision of genuine Cork people. We realise they need to give us their backing, like they did at the march last week, before it’s too late.”
Reacting to the strong vote of support for McCarthy at Tuesday night’s board meeting, Gardiner said: “there was no chance any vote backed by Frank Murphy would be defeated.”
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