Gaelic Games: There are reports that a number of Kerry players have issued a statement critical of the county executive's treatment of outgoing manager Páidi Ó Sé.

The players - most of whom are believed to be from Ó Sé's club An Ghaeltacht - do not wish to be named, but said the sentiment was unanimously held by the small number of players they had been able to contact.

Ó Sé, whose term of office has expired, learned in a telephone conversation on Thursday with county chairman Seán Walsh that it was the wish of the executive to appoint a new management team for the senior footballers.

He was also told that it was the wish of the executive that members of the outgoing management would not be reappointed.

The players are reported to have expressed their "dissatisfaction and disappointment with the treatment of Páidí Ó Sé by the executive of the Kerry County Board, given his years of service to football in the county both as a player and as a manager".

But the players added that they did not want this statement to be seen in any way as interfering with the process of appointing a new manager.

They also went on to explain that they were only able to contact a small number of the entire panel but of those contacted to date they were unanimous in their support of the issuing of the statement.

It is reported that nine players issued the statement, including five from An Ghaeltacht.

Meanwhile, the process of looking for a successor to Ó Sé continues. It is believed that three names have been shortlisted and one of these will be announced before the end of the month.

Ó Sé took charge of the Kerry team in 1995 and led them to two All-Irelands and six Munster titles as well as a National League title.

This season, Ó Sé led Kerry to the Munster title but they were comprehensively beaten by eventual champions Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final.