Premier chiefs battle to preserve Evans’ dual role

TIPPERARY officials have vowed to fight to preserve the position of John Evans as director of football.

The newly-created role hit a snag over the weekend when Croke Park declared that Evans cannot continue as both director of football and manager of the county’s senior football team. But Tipp chairman Barry O’Brien declared last night that Tipperary have broken no rules and that Evans should be free to continue his dual mandate.

O’Brien explained: “Croke Park have advised us that John Evans is precluded from the role of manager because of his role as director of football.”

Croke Park are basing their decision on a letter sent to all counties on December 15 last which contained a recommendation from the GAA’s management committee, then passed by Central Council. The recommendation relates to all those employed on a full-time basis by the GAA as coaches, banning them from involvement in the management of intercounty teams.

O’Brien said: “The difference here is that he (Evans) is not employed as a full-time coach, he’s employed as director of football. That’s different to being a coach and on that basis, I can’t see why he’s being precluded.”

Tipperary will argue a strong case to Croke Park for the retention of Evans in both roles as they see him as central to the implementation of a five-year plan for the development of the game in the county.

And O’Brien believes that the Kerry man is the right person to help further that success from grassroots level up.

O’Brien added: “We will respond to Croke Park and then wait to see what they have to say.”

Tipperary officials have received email contact from the GAA’s Director General Pauric Duffy, who outlined the association’s stance on the matter.

Tipperary have responded seeking clarification from Croke Park and will prepare an official written response when the Premier County’s executive committee meets in the coming days.

O’Brien added: “At the moment, John Evan is manager of the senior football team. Croke Park have raise a query regarding his appointment as director of football. Whilst we are solving this problem, he is definitely our senior manager and we will clarify his position as director of football.

“We will not break any rules but it has to be clear that what we have done is in contravention of the Official Guide. We don’t believe that it is. This appointment is a major item in the forward planning for the development of football in Tipperary and we won’t be walking away easily from it.”