Any lingering hopes of a swift resolution to the latest Cork hurling crisis nosedived last night as the players released a lengthy and hard-hitting statement. Outlining the reasons why the panel will not play under newly re-appointed manager Gerald McCarthy, the statement went on to claim there was a "vendetta" being waged against the players.
Having held two meetings to consider comments made by McCarthy and the Cork county board in the media last week, the players issued their response through the Irish Examinerand pulled few punches.
Addressing what they view as "attempts to mislead the Cork GAA public", the players claimed that at no stage was McCarthy bullied and, while defending their right to have a say in the selection process, insisted they did not want to pick the new manager.
"We feel there has been a concerted campaign against us and we have no choice but to try to set the record straight," they explained. "For all of us these developments are unwelcome and unnecessary, but for some of us, due to the magnitude of the campaign, they can only be interpreted as constituting a vendetta."
"The players don't say they have the right to pick the manager, nor do they want the right to pick the manager.
"The players have the right, according to a binding agreement, to have a two-sevenths representation in the process to appoint a new manager."
Of McCarthy's assertion that he was intimated by members of the squad, the players responded: "We're amazed Gerald could have found any approach to him ferocious, intimidating or in any way improper . . . he has accused the players of bullying him - that did not happen at any time. He has been treated at all times with great respect, as befits his position."