Paudie Clifford: Fossa will have new manager in next week ahead of Munster campaign

Jerome Stack stepped down as manager four weeks after their Kerry IFC triumph

AIB ambassador Paudie Clifford (Fossa) at the launch of the AIB GAA, LGFA, and Camogie All-Ireland Club Championships. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Paudie Clifford says he expects a new Fossa manager to be in place for training early next week.

Jerome Stack stepped down as manager of the freshly crowned Kerry IFC champions last weekend, just four weeks after the landmark success, the first in the club's history.

It has been speculated that experienced Stack, who has enjoyed success with clubs at various grades, in a number of counties, and who worked with the Kerry ladies team this year, was frustrated with arrangements around players training for county SFC side East Kerry.

Jerome Stack. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

Kerry forward Clifford and sibling David were among that group though speaking at the launch of the AIB club championships, Paudie declined to go into detail and said the club would install Stack's replacement shortly.

Fossa are due to play the Clare or Waterford representatives at the semi-final stage of the AIB Munster club IFC on November 22.

"I think the club are working away in the background," said Clifford of the managerial situation. "We have a good few weeks before the Munster semi-final. We're just leaving that to the lads and they'll come to whatever decision and I think they'll have something in place for next Tuesday. 

We're just training hard ourselves this week so it'll be resolved."

Two-time All-Ireland winner Clifford, nominated again for an All-Star award along with Footballer of the Year nominee David, said the club has tried to keep things running smoothly.

"We found out over the weekend," he said. "We just trained away this week and made sure we kept up our sharpness and fitness."

Asked if the players received an explanation for Stack's sudden departure, Clifford shrugged.

"I'm not really sure on that one, I think, as I said, I'll have to wait for the club to come to their decisions over the next few days before commenting. I know there's things going on in the background, so we'll just let them at that."