County board pays tribute to English

Glowing tributes were paid to former Tipperary senior hurling boss Nicky English at the monthly meeting of the County GAA Board after it was announced by Chairman Con Hogan that he was standing down.

All the speculation and rumour about Nicky's future was finally put to bed when delegates to the board were informed that Nicky was stepping down as manager of the senior hurling team - a position he held for four years.

The positions of selectors Jack Bergin and Ken Hogan have not yet been decided as no contact has been made with them.

Chairman Con Hogan led the tributes to Nicky as the board meeting fell silent. Indeed, there was a marked period of silence upon news of the announcement and many of the delegates, some of whom are never short of comment, were gobsmacked.

"It is with regret that I have received from Nicholas English confirmation of his decision to step down as manager of our senior hurling team. His intention in this regard has been known to us for some time, and while appreciating his position, my fellow officers and I did everything that could be done to persuade him to remain on," he said.

"In doing this we were conscious that we were carrying out what we know was the wish of the Tipperary hurling public, as well as that of the senior hurling panel.

"Now that the decision has been confirmed, I want, on behalf of all hurling supporters in the county to express our thanks for what Nicky, together with his fellow selectors, Ken Hogan and Jack Bergin have done for Tipperary hurlng over the past four years.

"During that time they brought an All-Ireland title, a Munster championship and two national hurling leagues to the county. Tipperary was at all times during their tenure of office in the very forefront of the hurling scene, never at any time separated by any more than a narrow margin from the McCarthy Cup.

"Under them Tipperary hurling was a model not alone of the finest skills of the game itself, but

of the finest qualities of sportsmanship.

"The quality of commitment which marked Nicholas English's entire life as a hurler was brought to the job of manager and allied to this was a human touch which made the business of handling players and people come naturally to him. These were attributes which made for an easy relationship between board and manager. There was never a crisis of the slightest kind in that

relationship.

"In noting Nicky's step down from his position as manager, it is only right that he should be thanked for a lifetime of service to the game of hurling, to the GAA, to Tipperary and to youth everywhere. The high quality of his behavior as a player on the hurling field was matched only by the impeccable

quality of his behaviour as our team manager over the past four years.

"Anne, as much as Nicky, has given much to Tipperary over the past number of years and we thank her sincerely for her support of Nicky as a player and manager. I know I am speaking for Tipperary people everywhere in wishing them both happiness and fulfilment in the future," he said.

The Chairman's words of thanks were echoed by a number of delegates who also spoke about Nicky's outstanding contribution to the game and to Tipperary.

A special committee has been set up to seek a successor to Nicky and to look at all the inter county management team selections. The committee comprises Con Hogan (chairman), Michael O'Brien (Secretary), Michael Nolan (Treasurer), Donie Shanahan (Vice Chairman), and the divisional Chairman; Michael Burke(Mid), Tom Slattery (North), Willie Barrett (South) and James O'Donnell

(West).

The committee will swing into action immediately to seek out a successor to the English throne.