Tommy Lyons has agreed to stay on as Offaly football manager for the coming season. The Dubliner's decision, after weeks of speculation that he might resign, will be greeted with great relief by the Leinster champions.

Lyons's decision to stay on was made yesterday following discussions held by Offaly county chairman Brendan Ward and secretary Christy Todd. Lyons, who guided Offaly out of Division Four and to the Leinster title, stays on with the same management team - selectors Paul O'Kelly (Edenderry) and Eddie Fleming (Clara).

Lyons had suggested in the wake of the county's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Mayo that he might not be able stay on as manager as he was unsure whether he could maintain the levels of commitment required.

Lyons lives in Dublin - he guided the Stillorgan-based club Kilmacud Crokes to the All-Ireland club football title in 1995 - and the travel to and from Offaly was said to be taking its toll on his family life. The announcement that he will stay is timely, coming just as Offaly begin their preparations for the new-look league in which their first game will be at home to Monaghan on October 19th.