Bailey denies county approach to O'Dwyer

Dublin reaction: Dublin chairman John Bailey has denied that Mick O'Dwyer has been approached in relation to the county's vacant managerial position. There has been intense speculation that the Laois manager is about to take up the reins in the capital, and allegations at last night's Laois County Board meeting that an approach from Dublin destabilised O'Dwyer's position in Laois.

"The county board has set in train a process," said Bailey, "that won't conclude until next month. Then a recommendation will be made. In the meantime all of this rumour is disrespectful to people who've put themselves forward for consideration.

"In the past few weeks I'm supposed to have spoken to Mick O'Dwyer, gone down to Cork to interview Páidí Ó Sé and over to Galway to talk to John O'Mahony. None of that is true.

"It's crazy. I went to Croke Park yesterday and suddenly I was having dinner with Pete McGrath afterwards to offer him the Dublin job. Even during the match I had to leave my seat because the phone was ringing so much."

Bookmakers Boylesports are evidently unimpressed by the denials and yesterday slashed the odds on O'Dwyer becoming the next Dublin manager from 6 to 1 to 5 to 6.

The new manager will be chosen by a selection sub-committee, detailed to find a successor to Tommy Lyons, which consists of four members, including Bailey and county secretary John Costello who is out of the country.

"John's on holidays," according to Bailey, "and won't be back for a couple of weeks. We're not scheduled to meet until 8th November so there'll be no decision until then."

A number of preliminary interviews have taken place so far.

Bailey also said that there would be a significant announcement in relation to the county hurlers. "We're dotting the 'i's and crossing the 't's at the moment, but we'll shortly be revealing two major appointments to Humphrey Kelleher's management team," he said.

Whereas Bailey declined to name the individuals involved, the coach is believed to be a well-known All-Ireland winning former player and the trainer has experience at the top level of the intercounty game.

This development will be seen as a boost to the county hurlers, who had an undistinguished year, losing to Offaly in the Leinster championship and getting a heavy beating from Kilkenny in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

The team was further demoralised when captain Kevin Flynn and Liam Ryan decided to leave for the US before the Kilkenny match.