Johnston transfer row escalates

Kildare County Board president Seamus Aldridge has criticised the handling of Seanie Johnston’s stalled transfer to the county.

The former Leinster chairman believes manager Kieran McGeeney was wrong to speak about the switch before it had been formalised.

He also questioned what the transfer, if successful, will mean to Kildare’s up-and-coming footballers.

Aldridge’s comments come as Cavan’s management committee refused to support Johnstown’s transfer from Cavan Gaels to St Kevin’s, Staplestown.

They have raised doubts about the legitimacy of Johnston’s claim that he is permanently living in Kildare, as is necessary for the switch to be granted.

Kildare chiefs are now likely to be asked by the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) to prove Johnston is residing in the county on a full-time basis.

Aldridge has no problem with the 27-year-old moving to Kildare providing everything is above board.

However, he believes McGeeney shouldn’t have commented on Johnston making the transfer.

“If he’s legal to come then he can come but if he’s not, he shouldn’t,” said Aldridge. “I felt it was inappropriate for the team management to say anything on the subject before it has been made official.”

McGeeney has stated he would welcome Johnston with “open arms” but warned the player will have to work hard to force his way into the team.

But Aldridge feels the optics of the possibility of the forward coming into the Kildare panel are wrong.

“If someone comes in like that, then you have the problem of the message sent to young players.

“What sort of signal is it going to send to them? It doesn’t seem to be fulfilling the requirements of the GAA.”

Aldridge appreciates Kildare have a history of transfers but points out Kerry’s Karl O’Dwyer, son of former manager Mick, was a teacher in Rathangan and Brian Murphy, a Cork native, managed a factory in Naas.

Johnston is a secondary school teacher in Cavan. But he states he is living in Straffan, the point Cavan have raised issue with.

“We have received — nor are we entitled to receive — but we have received no evidence to support the fact that he is apparently living at a new address in Straffan, Co Kildare,” said Cavan PRO, Declan Woods.

“As far as we’re concerned, the Seán Johnston that we know works full-time in Cavan and lives in Cavan.

“It now falls to Croke Park to seek proof of permanent residence. Should he prove that, it goes through and that is it. We will accept it and wish him good luck.”

After finishing up discussions on the transfer close to 1am yesterday morning, Cavan now plan to send an email to Croke Park outlining their reservations.

Cavan Gaels’ management committee are likely to discuss the matter tonight but the matter now rests with the CCCC. However, St Kevin’s are determined to fight Johnston’s case to get the transfer application accepted.

Club chairman Martin Murray described Cavan’s suggestion that Johnston is not living in Kildare as “ridiculous” considering the amount of time and effort required to play under McGeeney.

“Seanie is committed to playing football with Kevin’s and Kildare and we at Kevin’s are committed to taking him on,” said Murray.

“The Cavan County Board have pulled something out of the hat and we’ll have to go down the Croke Park route now.

“But Seanie wants to play inter-county football and he’s not wanted by Cavan. There’s nothing to say that he’ll get into the Kildare team and to do so, he’d have to work very hard. We know what Kieran McGeeney will demand. So it’s ridiculous to say that he would be able to commit to that training, including the early morning sessions they have, if he wasn’t living in the county.

“He needs to be here five nights a week to be able to train with Kildare.”