Clare captain O’Connell set to meet with board

05/11/2009 - 10:31:26
Clare senior hurling captain Brian O’Connell is to meet representatives of the Clare Co Board within the next 24 hours to discuss the stand-off within the Banner County regarding senior hurling boss Mike McNamara.

Player sources revealed yesterday that lines of communication were open between players and administrators, adding that the panel would not be discussing the issue further until briefed by O’Connell following his discussions with the Co board.

It is the latest development in a controversy that flared up last week when the Clare senior hurling panel sent a letter to the county board expressing their lack of confidence in McNamara as team manager.

The board, however, re-appointed McNamara as manager at last week’s meeting and did not take the players’ letter into consideration at that meeting as it was unsigned.

The panel are understood to have met again over the weekend and reiterated their desire for a new manager.

Clare won no league or championship games this season, apart from a relegation play-off victory over Wexford, and while McNamara was widely credited with bringing the All-Ireland-winning Clare teams of 1995 and 1997 to a new peak in physical fitness, his methods in recent seasons have been criticised.

Heavy training sessions in the run-up to crucial national hurling league games, for instance, were blamed for flat performances from players.

GAA president Christy Cooney was quoted yesterday as describing the matter as an "internal" issue for Clare and the county board is scheduled to meet next Tuesday.

As of last night McNamara was expected to attend that meeting in order to outline his plans for next season.

If McNamara steps down before that then Clare will be on the look-out for a new manager. Former ‘keeper Davy Fitzgerald, however, is committed to Waterford and All-Ireland-winning captain Anthony Daly is in charge of Dublin.

In addition, former Clare selector and physical trainer Louis Mulqueen is believed to be in the frame as one of Fitzgerald’s new selectors with Waterford, which removes another possibility for the Clare Co Board.