Sport

Fanning lost to Louth for now as he emigrates to Australia

LOUTH DEFENDER Mick Fanning has revealed he felt he had no option but to leave Ireland following an unsuccessful hunt for work…

Thu Jan 06 2011 - 00:00

LOUTH DEFENDER Mick Fanning has revealed he felt he had no option but to leave Ireland following an unsuccessful hunt for work here.

Fanning, a physiotherapist,failed to secure a desired role within the HSE and is emigrating to Australia next Monday for at least a year.

The Naomh Mairtin clubman impressed for Louth at centre back in the 2010 championship but is one of three players, along with John O’Brien and Brian White, who are unavailable to the Wee County this year.

The trio will leave massive holes for manager Peter Fitzpatrick to fill as Louth look to build on an historic Leinster final appearance in 2010 but Fanning is now looking ahead to his stint Down Under.

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He said: “I’m looking forward to it now, can’t wait. We’re heading away next Sunday. There’s a lot of last minute organisation but we’re almost ready to go. We’ll spend a week and a half in Thailand and then it’s on to Sydney for January 25th.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a young lad around 17 or 18, even to go to America or travel somewhere else.

“Football always kept me at home but with my work situation, it’s a perfect time to go.”

Fanning is travelling with White and two other friends and the four plan to meet up with O’Brien when they arrive in Australia.

“John’s out there nearly a month now. He left in the first week in December. The plan is to meet him at some stage. He’s in Perth. I’m good friends with Brian and we’re going together.”

Fanning insisted: “I’m not nervous about it. I’m going more to work than travel. I’d be slightly pessimistic if I don’t come across work but there does seem to be plenty of it and I’m hoping to nail down something. I’m qualified nearly two years but what I wanted to do in Ireland was to work in the HSE in outpatients. That’s a 9-5 job but there’s a recruitment embargo since I qualified so it’s been virtually impossible.

“Loads of people tried to get me work but once the Government is not recruiting, it’s very hard to get that work. There are some nixers with football teams but they’re on the nights I’m training and it’s very hard to mix and match.”

Former Tipperary senior player Raymie Ryan has been confirmed as the county’s minor hurling team manager.