Banner players to meet board chiefs on future of McNamara

A CLARE player delegation led by captain Brian O’Connell look set to meet with county board chiefs within the next 48 hours to outline their opposition to the retention of manager Mike McNamara for the 2010 season.

The squad gathered over the weekend to discuss their strategy after the board executive last week backed McNamara and his management team of Ollie Baker and Alan Cunningham to see our their term despite unrest amongst the panel after a disastrous league and championship.

A document containing a list of the players grievances was drawn up in the wake of that weekend meeting and a copy has been sent to board chairman Michael O’Neill.

O’Neill along with two independent arbitrators will hold face-to-face talks with the players to discuss the contents of that document while it remains unclear if McNamara and his selectors will be in attendance.

However sources within the county claim the board are keen to find a resolution to this saga as quickly as possible and avoid the potential for a repeat of the long-drawn out disputes which have rocked Cork GAA in recent years.

Clare PRO Syl O’Connor last night confirmed that: “The board have received documentation from the players and will be setting up a discussion with the players over the next couple of days. People are suggesting that may be tonight but it is not set in stone.

“We await the outcome of that to see what other action will be taken.

“I don’t know what is in that documentation as the chairman was in receipt of that.”

Meanwhile, former Clare All Star Tony Griffin yesterday stressed that the players wanted a “set-up in which they feel they can succeed”.

Griffin (28) who announced his retirement from the squad on Sunday welcomed proposed talks between the parties. He said: “We must give Mike, his management and the county board the respect they deserve by sitting down and discussing it.

“I know that the players – and I will be watching them from the stand in 2010 – feel very strongly. They want to have a set-up in which they feel they can succeed.

“They don’t feel that the current set-up is that set-up.

“Time will tell I am sure,” said Griffin, speaking on Clare FM yesterday.