Managers’ RTÉ boycott over
Cody and Moran were two of eight signatories to a letter sent to the broadcaster highlighting their concern at the apparent downgrading of Brian Carthy as a commentator with RTÉ Radio One.
Cody had no issue in giving interviews to both RTÉ television and radio following Kilkenny’s Leinster semi-final win at Wexford Park on Saturday.
Moran, meanwhile, yesterday spoke to them following his side’s defeat to Roscommon at Carrick-on-Shannon.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent yesterday, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, the leader of the group, confirmed they would be speaking to RTÉ after they had received a response to their letter.
Harte said: “We took our action last weekend but RTÉ has since corresponded with us and though the response wasn’t what we were hoping for, having received their letter we have decided to make ourselves available for interview again.”
Harte was one of three managers who refused to talk to RTÉ journalists last weekend.
Cork manager Conor Counihan, who was among the letter’s signatories, was interviewed by Carthy for RTÉ following their Munster semi-final win over Waterford.
Harte slammed the media for portraying the stand-off between them and RTÉ as something that it wasn’t.
“There are a few things I want to clear up,” he said. “For much of last week we have read nothing but easy-street and lazy journalism. People got an opinion, hopped on a bandwagon and basically ran with this notion that we were holding RTÉ over a barrel or holding them to ransom. That is absolutely so far off-the-mark. Did anyone bother to try to source the letter we sent RTÉ?
“Where does it say in the letter that we tried to tell RTÉ what to do?
“The strongest tone we used in that letter was that we ‘respectfully requested’ a chat with them so we could get our views on Brian across.”
Harte maintained they made no threat against RTÉ but had acted after the delay in receiving the reply to their letter from the company’s director general Noel Curran.
“There was no anger or ultimatum. We were concerned about it and so a group of us decided to do something about it. But in no way did we try to force RTÉ to do anything like what has been suggested in parts of the media.
“What actually upset us most is that we sent a letter, with those points in mind, to RTÉ on May 23 but didn’t even get an acknowledgement — never mind a reply — until last Tuesday.
“After going more than a week without a reply we decided to do something about it and opted not to agree to interviews with RTÉ. It was a very informal thing, a discussion among friends.
“There was no question of us trying to lay down the law. I’ve had to listen to media people saying they wouldn’t dream of telling me how to pick the Tyrone team but they are completely missing the point.
“We just wanted the opportunity to meet the RTÉ people and make a few points. It was a polite and respectful request.”
It remains to be seen exactly what Harte and his fellow managers will do now, if anything at all.
Last Sunday, Laois manager Justin McNulty refused to speak to the print media as well as RTÉ.
Earlier this week, Longford manager Glen Ryan distanced himself from the letter, saying he did not authorise his name being attached to it.
Harte said there would have been several more managers behind the move had they been contacted.
“If we had cast the net further we would have got plenty more support but this was just an informal decision among a group of friends. All we wanted was the opportunity to chat about our concerns or a response.”
