In what is at least partly the result of the fallout from the battle between the Irish Sports Council and its critics, international rowing team manager Dermot Henihan has been replaced.
Henihan yesterday confirmed that he was no longer chairman of the international rowing committee of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union, nor men's convenor. Mick O'Callaghan has taken over both roles, at least on a temporary basis, until the next meeting of the IARU executive later this month or in early December.
While Henihan refused to discuss in detail the IARU executive meeting which led to the change, it is understood that he was asked to step down and that one of the reasons given was a reportedly stormy meeting with Sports Council chief executive John Treacy at which Henihan was one of the representatives of the union.
The Phoenix magazine later reported that Treacy expressed anger over comments by international rowers which were critical of the Sports Council and left the meeting immediately afterwards.
Coincidentally, under the aegis of the Olympic Council of Ireland, Henihan will be manager of pre-games training camps for Sydney.
The a.g.m. of the IARU earlier this month had heard unconnected criticisms concerned with the management of Irish teams during the year: John Holland, one of three coaches who were replaced during the season, questioned the manner in which the decisions were communicated to the principals. Another of those replaced, Mick Desmond, went as far as taking the union to court, before dropping the action.
The decision to concentrate on non-Olympic events at the World Championships in Canada was also questioned at the a.g.m.
Henihan, a former president of the rowing union and a current vice-president, has had a long history of voluntary service to rowing. He was involved with one Olympic rowing team and 10 World Championship teams.
"I don't like packing my bags after all these years," he said yesterday. "My philosophy is that some people like me, some don't," he added, "but I have nothing to be ashamed of."
Soccer: Gavin Dykes has been confirmed as the new manager of Finn Harps following the resignation of Charlie McGeever six weeks ago. Dykes had been acting as caretaker manager in McGeever's absence and in that period has led the side to four victories in their last six games.
McGeever chose to resign as a result of the Donegal side picking up only one point from their first seven games. He is now top of the list to move back to Sligo Rovers and fill the managerial vacancy left by Jim McInally's resignation last Sunday.
Soccer: Aston Villa midfielder Gavin Melaugh has been called into Brian Kerr's under-18 squad, which leaves for Malta this morning for next week's UEFA qualifying tournament. Melaugh, a native of Derry who has opted for the Republic of Ireland despite having played for the North at under-16 level, has come into the squad after Brian O'Callaghan and Andy Reid pulled out because of injury.
Squad: J Murphy (Tranmere Rovers), G Doherty (Derby County), K Foy (Nottingham Forest), J Thompson (Nottingham Forest), D Byrne (St Patrick's Athletic), J O'Shea (Manchester United), J Goodwin (Celtic), G Melaugh (Aston Villa), J Douglas (Blackburn Rovers), S Byrne (West Ham United), G Dempsey (Everton), L Miller (Celtic), T Butler (Sunderland), D Mattis (Huddersfield Town), B McGill (Sunderland), D McMahon (Newcastle United), B Burgess (Blackburn Rovers), G Barrett (Arsenal), P Forsyth (Blackburn Rovers).
