GAELIC GAMES: Question marks remain over Páidí Ó Sé's tenure as Kerry football manager as the fallout continued yesterday over his controversial remarks in recent interviews. Ian O'Riordan reports.

As one poll taken by Radio Kerry yesterday morning revealed a 65-35 vote in favour of Ó Sé stepping down, All Ireland-winning captain Ger Power was critical of his former team-mate on Radio Kerry's weekly sports programme Terrace Talk broadcast on Tuesday night.

"I think Páidí Ó Sé is getting slightly carried away about his own importance," said Power. "Ogie Moran got a hard time after losing a Munster final and Mickey O'Sullivan was torn to shreds when Clare beat us in a Munster final in 1992. So Páidí would want to remember that we were beaten by Armagh and in my eyes Armagh were handed the All-Ireland. But because Armagh won it was suddenly okay to lose it."

While Power admitted his surprise at the nature of Ó Sé's comments, he was also clear on how far-reaching the damage had been.

"I have served under many Kerry bosses including Mick O'Dwyer and they would never say anything like this. I read the Sunday Tribune article about Maurice Fitzgerald coming back, then came the amazing interview with Eamon Dunphy when he said he knew on the Thursday night before the All-Ireland that Kerry were not going to beat Armagh. He used the 'f' word on two occasions and I was thinking the next thing I will see is an apology.

"But I could not believe what I saw in the Kerryman a few days later with more expletives and then this Sunday Independent interview with a couple of more 'fs'. I think it is not right for the manager or trainer of the Kerry team to be saying those things.

"I think you are representing Kerry and if you take a job like that there are three groups of people you have to be loyal to. They are, number one, the selectors that are in there with you, the players, whom you have to look after, and lastly the supporters. You need to have those three groups together and on your side."

Another former Kerry All-Ireland winner and current radio commentator, Liam Higgins, who also featured on the programme, was more defensive of Ó Sé, particularly the references to the training input of John O'Keeffe, Kerry team trainer and selector.

"Páidí said that he had new innovative ideas that he needed to discuss with the Kerry selectors and he did not say he was going to take a more active part in the training," he said. "This is all innuendo and this is what I object to because the ordinary person reading it will think Páidí said it."

Higgins reckoned there could have also been another factor at work. "The man had a few pints in him and he was caught by a crafty Dublin journalist. His language was inappropriate and he was quoted verbatim. He is a rough man and he speaks roughly especially after a couple of pints.

"And the comment itself about the Kerry supporters and the animal part of it, he did not mean that at all, I know that for a fact. It was strong language but what Páidí meant was that they are critical and demanding, which he says in his apology."

Both Power and Higgins did agree that Kerry no longer have an open-door policy with the media and the over-protection of players has led to problems. But Power went further and said Ó Sé would have a hard time sorting out all the issues.

"Páidí will have to mend fences when he comes back with the county board, with the supporters and with John O'Keeffe. There are a lot of people up in arms about what he said and the language he used. I also think he will have to get the players' confidence back. I think he will have to come back and put his hands up, because I do not think today's apology was a great apology."

Ó Sé's statement, faxed home on Tuesday morning from Cape Town where the team are on holiday, clarified several of the comments made in the Sunday Independent interview but it appears to have gone only so far in placating the controversy.

For a start the Kerry supporters club are seeking further explanation. Ó Se's remark that the county's supporters were "f***ing animals" had lost some of its context, and in clarifying his words he made it clear he was referring to their high demands for success.

Yet the supporters club has stated their desire for a more formal apology, and has also called on the executive of the Kerry County Board to take up the issue. The county board disassociated themselves from Ó Sé's comments and admitted they were likely to seek further clarification on some of the issues at their first meeting of the year on Tuesday week.

O'Keeffe was indirectly blamed for Maurice Fitzgerald's withdrawal from the panel last year (in that his training was too tough) and also for at times standing in Ó Sé's way along with the other selectors. While he has refused to comment on any of the remarks, O'Keeffe has made it known he does want to clear up some of the issues with Ó Sé in the coming weeks.

In his statement from Cape Town Ó Sé specifically pointed out he had "no question mark of any kind" over O'Keeffe's techniques of physical training. The interview in the Sunday Independent didn't include any direct quotes from Ó Sé on the future role of O'Keeffe, but it is known that Ó Sé has told one close colleague he would be "taking the whistle" at training sessions from now on.

Ó Sé also has some confidence-building to do with his players - something he is already likely to have started in Cape Town following his comments regarding their attitude before the All-Ireland.

It is also known that Fitzgerald has indicated to Ó Sé he would return to the panel for the coming season - though how Fitzgerald will react to this controversy and references to the physical training remains to be seen.

No county official or player, however - past or present - has called directly for Ó Sé's resignation.