GAA:The Fermanagh fallout rumbles on with 11 senior footballers the latest to express their "deep disappointment" their county board chose to reject the Croke Park recommendations to resolve the standoff between manager John O'Neill and members of the senior panel.
“It is our continued contention that the current management team falls far short of the high standards of organisation and preparation which are required to compete at inter-county standard,” read today’s statement signed by 11 players.
Niall Bogue, James Connolly, Ciaran Flaherty, Mark Little, Sam Lynch, Shane Lyons, Tommy McElroy, John Mullarkey, Seamus Quigley, James Sherry and Peter Sherry all signed the document.
“We the undersigned would like to express our deep disappointment that the Fermanagh Co Board has chosen to reject the recommendations made under the GPA/GAA Disputes Resolution Protocols.”
“Rather than this season being a launch pad for a rebuilding process, we believe there has been a decline in standards. As a result the undersigned 11 panel members, (not ‘only four’ as stated by the county board) have withdrawn to date due to concerns regarding team management.
“We have also received the support of a significant number of players from last year’s squad who share our views on the current situation.
We would like to make it clear that we bear no animosity whatsoever to the players who remain on the panel and have at no point attempted to coerce or influence any panelist into making a decision.
“However we believe the County Board have attempted to drive a wedge between the current squad and the players involved in the Dispute.
“We wish to put on record that we remain passionately committed to Fermanagh football and have not taken this course of action lightly. We hope our past service to our County will be seen as evidence of this commitment.
“As the County Board has chosen to reject the recommendations made under the GPA/GAA Disputes Protocol, we now call on the clubs in Fermanagh to ensure that a comprehensive review is carried out transparently at the end of the season and to ensure that their views are heard clearly on this matter.”
The GAA and GPA last week attempted to bring a resolution to the standoff last week under the Disputes Resolution Protocols. Yesterday morning the Fermanagh County Management Committee rejected the GAA/GPA recommendations and threw their support behind O’Neill and his management team. The GAA/GPA later in the day then expressed their disappointment that the recommendations were not taken on board.
With just London and Kilkenny below them, Fermanagh are third from bottom in the Allianz Football League Division 4 with a number of players quitting the senior panel.