GAELIC GAMES:THE CORK County Board last night issued a strongly-worded statement which both supported the hurling manager Gerald McCarthy in the stand-off with the players and reiterated his reappointment was in no way flawed.

"The board reaffirms its support for its properly-appointed hurling manager, Gerald McCarthy, and expresses its admiration for his resolve in the current, difficult circumstances," it started.

"Board members involved in the selection process for the new manager are at a loss to understand how player representatives could claim the process was flawed from the outset. Five meetings took place, four of which were perfectly cordial and constructive. At the commencement of the process, the selection committee was unaware Gerald McCarthy would even be available for the coming season.

"At no stage in any of the meetings, did either of the player representatives formally propose the name of any other candidate for consideration. At the third meeting, there was a discussion of the names of other possible managers and at no stage was it suggested that any of those talented coaches was superior to Gerald McCarthy. When a vote was called at the fifth meeting, player representatives walked out.

"As representatives of the wider GAA family in Cork, we would ask the players, particularly those in leadership positions, to consider whether their current action and threatened action is justified, proportionate or fair. We sincerely appeal to them to step back from all of this . . ."