GAELIC GAMES: There were few things Páidí Ó Sé was specific about yesterday when discussing life after Kerry football, but a return to management at some point down the road clearly wasn't ruled out. The only provision is that it must be the green and gold. All others can move on.

"This thing doesn't rule me out of coming back into management," he said. "Absolutely not. But to be brutally honest, I couldn't see myself at this point in time having the bottle to train another team to go out against the green and gold of Kerry. Especially against any group of lads I've trained."

For the immediate future then Kerry football can go on without Ó Sé. Yesterday's press conference in Killarney brought a formal end to his eight-year reign as manager, and the county board executive will now speed up the process of finding a replacement. Jack O'Connor, the current under-21 manager and former selector with Ó Sé, is the name on everyone's lips.

What is certain is that Monday night's meeting between Ó Sé and county board chairman Seán Walsh was the moment when the past was finally split from the future. Ó Sé might have wanted another year in charge, but the county board had made their minds up and it was pointless to go on. Ó Sé, not without some reluctance, felt he had "no choice" but to accept the decision.

Further details of that meeting would not be forthcoming: "I shook hands with Seán at the hotel in Dingle that night," said Ó Sé, "to agree that our conversation would not be brought out into the public domain at all. And if I shake hands on something I stand by it."

While he admitted he knew his time was up going into that meeting, he made it clear he was thinking about another year in charge. Something to do with unfinished business.

"Well, you have lots of people that will jump out of the boat when they win. And come out on the right side. They are the people who want to be in the winners' enclosure for every race, but when the horse doesn't win they won't be seen within a mile of the winners' enclosure. I'm not one of those people. I stick with whatever happens."

In a prepared statement he referred to the turning point in that mindset: "In the circumstances that have arisen, and after careful consideration, I have decided not to seek the renewal of my appointment as manager of the Kerry team, which expired recently."

But there was much to look back on. "My commitment to the game over those years have virtually governed my life," he added. "And I'm proud as a west Kerry man, and as a Ventry man, of the honour achieved by this great county.

"And during my retirement my commitment and support of the Kerry team and its patrons will remain undiminished, and they can be assured that whatever help I can give from the sidelines will be there. I wish the new manager every success, and I have no doubt that the renowned tradition of the Kerry team will continue unabated into the future."

In concluding his prepared statement, he paid special tribute to his family, his players, his selectors, supporters, and others too numerous to mention, "all of whom are so vital to the game".

Then came some hard-hitting questions, such as the controversial end of his reign, and any feelings of a raw deal being done.

"Well, I am disappointed. And I would be a little hurt. Football means so much to me. Inevitably there would come a time when you have to stand back from it. And I will miss it. But no doubt there is more to life than football."

So to the question of what happens next. Don't rule out politics, he said. "But at this point in time I have three young ones at home to look after. And a good wife, and a good mother. I'm also proud of my role as a director with Fáilte Ireland, so I have lots of areas to fill that vacuum for me."

Unprompted, he referred to the other controversies, primarily his comments last Christmas about Kerry supporters being "like animals".

"Sure west Kerry is a great part of the world during the festive season. At times we are partial to that strong Lucozade that can turn to black in tall glasses. I'm not making any excuses, but I was asked if it was pressure, or a time bomb to be Kerry manager.

"And I replied that it was, and in my roughest language said that Kerry supporters are an awful crowd of animals, because they demand high standards. I meant that as a compliment to the great supporters we have, and one of the reasons we've got 32 All-Irelands. Unfortunately I was misinterpreted, and paid a price. And maybe it cost me my job as well."

On a parting note, he was asked about the sweetest moment of his reign: "Well, one of the greatest buzzes I got was from Maurice Fitzgerald. There are a share of people that I admire, who have mental and physical strength, which is something very special. And Maurice in the semi-final replay against Armagh in 2000 showed that.

"He'd kicked that vital score in the drawn game, and in extra time of the replay it was Maurice's strength that day, with very little training, that was one of the most satisfying moments of winning that replay."