Fahy puts ball in Offaly's court

Gaelic Games News: Gerry Fahy could yet make a swift return to the position of Offaly senior football manager. With the conflicts between the Offaly County Board and the members of the senior football panel finally being sorted out on Tuesday night, the process of installing a new manager will formally begin.

Six weeks ago Fahy walked away from the position in controversial circumstances, setting in motion a chain of events that eventually led to both the football and hurling panels withdrawing their services.

Originally the county board had elected to give Fahy a second year in charge, albeit by a single vote. Fahy, however, viewed that as insufficient support.

Now, he says, it's up to the county board to approach him about the possibility of coming back on board.

"To be honest, I don't think it's proper for me to make any other comment than that right now," he said yesterday. "But the reality is, unless, and until, someone approaches me about being considered for the position as manager of the team, I'm not really in the equation again. If that situation arises and I do decide to put my name forward, then obviously I'll be able to comment on it then.

"What I will say is that I'm delighted it's all been satisfactorily sorted out anyway. And they do seem to have built bridges, which is great because all any one of us wanted was to see the players performing at the best."

In the meantime Fahy, a Galway native, has resisted the temptation to commit to any other county or club management. In other words he is available for selection. And he says he has remained in close contact with certain members of the football panel.

"Of course I became good friends with a lot of players up there, and would have been in contact in that regard. And I was reasonably aware of what was happening."

The ball then is clearly back in the court of the county board. According to Offaly press officer Pat Teehan, a five-man committee will now be established to nominate the new football manager "and it will be entirely up to those people who they want to approach".

The process of finally resolving the conflicts between the county board and the county football and hurling panels involved several meetings over the weekend and a statement was then released on Tuesday night by Eugene McGee, who had acted as mediator in the process.

In it several points relating to team preparation and related matters, which were a cause of serious concern to the players, were agreed upon - and will apply to both football and hurling.

Significantly from a managerial point of view, it was decided that the panel set-up to find the new appointment would include two former players. In future, the only role the county board will have will be to ratify the appointment.

Other terms for appointing team managers were also decided, with appointment terms of three years and with no review until the end of year two. Senior team management will also have the option to be in charge of the county's under-21 team.

Among the other main points was the establishment of a new set of guidelines to govern the Offaly senior panels' training and preparation, to bring them into line with what is best practice in county-team preparation at the present time. And the various items that were of concern to the players regarding training matters have been specifically resolved with the complete co-operation of county board officers and players.

Also a comprehensive system is being brought in to ensure players, team management and county board work as a united force in the best interests of Offaly football and hurling at all times.

Fresh priority was also given to the decision taken in August by Offaly county board to establish an official supporters' club which could bring substantial extra finance, on an ongoing basis, to supplement normal county board income.

Commenting on the outcome of the proceedings, and that the Offaly senior panel members have now made themselves available for the coming season as required, McGee said: "I want to thank the officials and players for their co-operation with me in difficult circumstances during recent weeks. It is my earnest wish that the solutions arrived at will herald a new era of stability and progress for Offaly football and hurling teams."

In Derry, meanwhile, Mickey Moran has survived for a third year as senior football manager following Tuesday night's meeting of the county board - although his reappointment was a lot closer than expected.

Despite only facing opposition from John Brennan, who has enjoyed remarkable success at club level, Moran was fortunate to survive - with the county delegates voting to reappoint him by a margin of nine to six votes. Two other contenders had earlier dropped out of the race for the job.

Brennan, who this year has taken Slaughtneil to the Derry county final, is clearly well placed to come in at some stage in the near future.