DUBLIN footballer Jason Sherlock yesterday issued a statement on the controversy surrounding Monday night's refusal by the county committee to endorse the findings of an investigation into his allegation that county vice-chairman Paddy Delaney spat at him during a sideline altercation.

The controversy raged on yesterday but the player himself indicated that he is not considering resigning from the team and quitting the game in protest, as had been speculated in the immediate aftermath of the affair. The statement read:

"As a result of an incident which took place during the Dublin under-21 championship match against Offaly last March, I submitted a letter of complaint to the Dublin County Board.

"The management committee set up by the county board to investigate the incident have found in my favour and have fully vindicated the substance of my complaint. The matter now rests with the county board."

Paddy Delaney was not available, for comment yesterday. As county chairman John Bailey is in hospital, Delaney is acting chairman of the board.

Sherlock's statement indicates that the player is willing to concentrate on the football business in hand and leave the resolution of the messy affair to the county board.

Last night the Dublin players were meeting to consider their attitude to Monday's outcome which saw the members of the investigating committee walk out in protest. Team captain Keith Barr spoke about his own hopes that the matter wouldn't interfere with the team's build-up to next month's big championship encounter with All-Ireland champions Meath.

"At the end of the day, it's difficult enough to concentrate on what's going to happen in four weeks. Dublin football has been knocked from one side to the other over the last 12 months and we face a very difficult job. We're not going to jump on a publicity bandwagon. What's required is that all the players decide what action we should take.

"I've spoken to most of the players already and we're all trying to get on with it. I'm not trying to go around the place ignoring what's happened but we have to have some sort of organisation. We'll be judged on what happens on June 15th, not what happens in the county board."

He said the players were behind Sherlock and denied that there was any resentment towards him from any other players. "That's not true. Jason Sherlock will be at training tonight. His statement makes that clear. He has been well advised on what has been a very bad incident.

"people seem very quick to forget that whenever schools needed vi siting with the Sam Maguire for promotion and the like, Jason was never found wanting. His efforts for the GAA in Dublin deserve better."

Elsewhere, there has been strong reaction to the controversy. Dublin's county board yesterday confirmed that there had been angry calls to their offices from supporters and members, some wanting money back from long-term tickets bought to assist the renovations in Parnell Park.

County secretary John Costello stated yesterday that he would `try and control' the situation which has riven the Dublin GAA. An emergency general meeting may be necessary to consider the position of the county board if all the management committee members who walked out. actually resign their positions.

"The findings of the (managing) committee were defeated because of politicking," said Costello. "Other players on the panel have played soccer. Mick Deegan plays in the Irish League with Crusaders. But Jason's high profile seems to have made him particularly unpopular."

These implications are what particularly worry some county board officers. It seems to suggest, as Barr noted yesterday, that "there are rules for players and rules for officials".

Costello is hoping that diplomatic manoeuvres will help sort out the matter before the next scheduled meeting of the county committee on Monday. If these efforts fail, he has no doubt that the management members, who withdrew from last, Monday's meeting, will resign. It is believed that Kevin Heffernan, also a member, but who wasn't present two days ago, will resign failing a resolution.