John Kiely fears bleak future for Waterford as ‘status quo will prevail’

Former Waterford senior manager John “Jackson” Kiely has deep reservations about the recent football forum having any positive impact on the game in the county.

According to board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan, “a corner was turned” at the three-hour meeting in Dungarvan earlier this month, which was attended by 100 club officials.

But Kiely poured cold water on that optimism, saying: “I don’t think it will achieve much. The status quo will prevail. The whole idea was to try and improve football within the county but it’s always going to be difficult. You’re looking at a county when there is over 50 clubs and almost all of them are dual clubs and hurling is number one.”