McCartan resigned to losing Clarke again

DOWN manager James McCartan looks set to lose Martin Clarke at the end of this season after he refused to rule out the player reviving his AFL career.

As The Irish Examiner reported last week, Clarke flies to Australia this week for a short trip with a view to organising a new Australian Rules contract.

Asked about the story following Saturday’s Ulster SFC quarter-final defeat to Armagh at the Morgan Athletic Grounds, McCartan said the two seasons Clarke has spent with Down is “more than you would have wished for”.

“You need to ask Martin that,” he said about the player’s trip Down Under this week. “I’m only his football manager, I don’t look after his agency work for him.

“The man is entitled to do what he wants. If he is going to Australia I have no problem with it. He’s been more than honourable with what he has done and the time he was going to be here for Down. He is entitled to do what he wants with his future. If he’s going to give us two years that’s more than you would have wished for.”

However, McCartan expects Clarke to be available for selection for Down’s first round qualifier at the end of the month. “I would assume he’ll be available for the next match,” said the Burren man.

Speaking to The Irish Examiner last Thursday, Down captain Benny Coulter’s words rang a similarly resigned tone to McCartan’s.

“We know where Marty stands as a whole panel and we back him fully 100%. It’s a nice place to live and if he does go back it’ll be our loss but I guarantee every lad will shake his hand and wish him well.

“Hopefully, he’ll do the business if he does go back there.”

Clarke’s former club Collingwood have kept in regular contact with the An Riocht man since he left in September 2009.

“However, there will be significant interest from several other AFL outfits in securing the 23-year-old’s signature.”