David Power steps down as Wexford football manager

David Power has stepped down as manager of the senior, junior and under 21 Wexford football teams with immediate effect.

The former Tipperary underage manager says that he can no longer devote the time required to continue his role for a third season.

Having been relegated to Division Four of the league in 2015, Wexford failed to secure promotion this year - and lost both of their championship games, to Kildare and then Fermanagh in the qualifiers.

Following Kildare’s subsequent defeat to Westmeath in the Leinster championship - Wexford half back Adrian Flynn tweeted “If we had anyone over us and decent training we’d be in a Leinster final.”

The 33-year-old manager had previously led the Tipperary minors to an All-Ireland title in 2011, and managed the Munster county’s Under-21 team. He was one of the key men behind Tipperary’s recent football revival.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning Wexford County Board “thanked David for his time and commitment to Wexford football and in particular his attention to the development of a new generation of young Wexford players. His work will form the foundations of Wexford football teams for years to come.”

Power himself released the following statement:

“I have made the decision to step down as manager of the Wexford senior, junior and Under-21 football teams with immediate affect.

“I feel that I can no longer devote the necessary time and energy required for these positions and with that in mind I have decided to step aside.

“I would like to sincerely thank the Wexford GAA board for giving me the opportunity to manage their senior team, and also the junior and Under-21 sides.

“It has been a tremendous honour for me to be involved with the three teams and I enjoyed every minute of the job.

“I would also like to thank the Wexford players for all their hard work and I want to wish them every success on the playing fields and in their future careers.

“My back-room team put in tremendous amounts of work and showed immense dedication and they were of huge assistance all the way through.

“I feel that significant progress has been made in the last two years.

“A lot young players have been blooded and introduced to intercounty football and we have been competitive always in all the games we played across the three grades.

“Finally, I want to wish Wexford GAA all the very best in the future.

“And I have no doubt that, with all the good work happening with development squads in the last 12 months, the rewards and dividends will clearly be seen in future years.”