GAELIC GAMES:Tony Considine's ill-fated term as Clare hurling manager ended on Tuesday night when club delegates voted 45-6 to remove him less than 12 months after he was given unanimous approval to take up the job. Gavin Cummiskey  reports.

Ironically, only six delegates had voted last year against Considine's nomination for a two-year term, but the county executive this week tabled a motion urging, "There would be a change in the Clare senior hurling management for 2008."

Pat O'Connor stepped down as selector before Tuesday's meeting, and Ciarán O'Neill and trainer Tim Crowe were also removed by what was effectively an overwhelming vote of no confidence.

A seven-man committee has been formed to find a new manager. It includes county chairman Michael McDonagh, secretary Pat Fitzgerald (father of goalkeeper Davy, who had a much publicised row with Considine), vice-chairman Michael O'Neill and four other club delegates, including Eugene McMahon, father of three current panellists and uncle of Alan Markham and the retired Seánie McMahon.

Clare PRO Des Crowe insists the process will be transparent and will follow due process.

"Last year the thing was rushed," he said. "This year there will be no shortcuts and everything will be done right.

"Every candidate can expect a fair crack of the whip and at the end of the day the clubs will make the final decision."

It is unclear if a single candidate or several will be put before the delegates. The next county board meeting is September 11th.

This was Considine's second period on the Clare management; he served as a selector under Ger Loughnane during the golden era when the Banner county won All-Ireland titles in 1995 and 1997.

He was, however, under severe internal pressure all season since the stand-off with the long-serving Davy Fitzgerald, who left the panel after disagreeing with Considine over training regimes.

At that time - one when it was clear Clare were in for a tough championship campaign after the retirement of Brian Lohan and Seánie McMahon - trainer Dave Mahedy and selector Ger Ward also stepped down, citing personal reasons.

Tony Carmody and Tony Griffin also left the panel, though Griffin returned last month.

"It all started with the Davy Fitz incident and there are of course two sides to that," confirmed Crowe. "There were other problems like doctors and sponsors being put out of dressingrooms, games fixed for Tuesday nights and players dropping off the panel. The team named against Limerick also caused consternation, as did some of the decisions from the sideline.

"Of course it is easy to be wise in hindsight."

Considine's problems were exacerbated by a public spat with the county board over fixtures.

A vote of no confidence was tabled by one club delegate but withdrawn as players rallied round the manager in the lead-up to the championship - notable words of support coming from team captain Frank Lohan.

Clare were well beaten by Cork in the Munster championship but recovered to produce their best form of the year to get past Galway, and their new manager, Loughnane, in the All-Ireland qualifiers. Their season was terminated by a comprehensive defeat to Limerick in the All-Ireland quarter-final on July 29th.

Considine was unavailable for comment yesterday.

The search for a new manager in hurling as well as football - Páidí Ó Sé having stepped down after just one season - could conceivably be complete by the next board meeting.

Davy Fitzgerald has, meanwhile, ruled himself out of the race to succeed Considine. Fitzgerald said he was not interested in the job at present because of his closeness to current panel members alongside whom he played.

There is still strong speculation that Fitzgerald is interested in taking the vacant Tipperary post, but he has yet to be contacted by officials from the Premier County.

Fitzgerald could of course decide to return to hurling in 2008; with 60 championship games on his CV, he is just five short of Christy Ring's all-time record of 65.

Alan Cunningham, the former Clare under-21 manager and a former selector for Anthony Daly, is the early favourite for the Clare job. It is understood he has the backing of several players.