Dempsey’s date with destiny as Laois clubs meet

SEAN DEMPSEY will discover tonight whether he is to be afforded the opportunity of managing the Laois senior footballers for a second season.

The executive of the county board decided to support the incumbent’s nomination for a second term at a meeting held last week but that still requires the ratification of the clubs who meet tonight.

Executive recommendations are rarely turned down but there is far from universal approval for Dempsey to stay on with a number of the bigger clubs said to be in favour of change.

What is clear is that the playing squad is very much a disgruntled one and some players were hugely disappointed and angered by the lack of discipline within the camp during the current season.

Laois only just avoided relegation to Division Three of the league, performed poorly in losing to Kildare and Down in the championship and lost four games during the year by margins ranging from nine to 20 points.

County chairman Brian Allen has already intimated that there will be changes in personnel, preparation and discipline next season and Dempsey has himself outlined how various things will be done differently should he stay on.

There has also been talk of a players’ charter.

Meanwhile, Cavan officials have confirmed Tommy Carr’s intention to remain on as county football manager.

The former Dublin boss had suggested as much over the weekend but it is now official after contact was made with chairman Philip Smith.

“Tommy and Phil had been in contact off and on and he had told Phil that he would have a decision for him by five o’clock (on Sunday) and Phil got a text from him at four from Croke Park so that’s that,” said secretary Liam McCabe.

“I suppose we will be meeting with him over the course of the next few weeks to discuss things going forward.”

It had been expected that Carr would stand down from the post after just one year in charge after he survived a narrow vote by the clubs saw him survive by a margin of just 30 to 23.

However, like in Laois, it seems that the county panel is at best divided on the issue.

Now it remains to be seen if there is any shake-up to Carr’s management team which this season consisted of former player Peter Reilly and trainer Niall Lynch.