GAA:Gerry Cooney has resigned as Offaly's senior football manager after meeting the players last night. Cooney had intended to lead the county into the Leinster championship, where they will meet Kildare, but made his decision "in the best interests" of Offaly football.
The Tullamore native had only been in the job for six months but a disappointing league campaign saw the Faithful county relegated to Division Four of the National Football League. Cooney admitted there were a number of issues in the panel at the time but hoped to iron those out before the summer.
However, with a number of players defecting from the camp, matters came to a head at last night’s meeting after which Cooney informed the county board of his decision.
“Gerry and his management team had a lengthy meeting with the panel of players last night,” Offaly county board chairman Pat Teehan explained in a statement. “Afterwards Gerry tendered his resignation in what he described as the best interest of Offaly football. The Offaly county board will now commence the process of putting in place, an interim management, for the championship.”