Tommy Naughton has been appointed manager of the Dublin hurlers. The decision was ratified at last night's meeting of the county committee in Parnell Park.
Naughton, who had turned down the position last week because of restrictions on the players he could pick, was ratified with selectors Tommy Ryan and Andy Cunningham. Ryan has not confirmed his acceptance of the position.
The new management is to meet the players tomorrow night and restart preparation for the upcoming All-Ireland qualifier series. Naughton will have full autonomy to select his own panel this weekend. That was confirmed at the meeting, which considered the position of Kevin Flynn, who had been banned from playing for the county, having left the panel last year just days before the qualifier against Kilkenny to go to the US for what the player maintains were work-related reasons.
The prohibition on selecting Flynn had proved an unacceptable restriction for Naughton. Last night's meeting decided in future players selected for the county panel must sign an undertaking to be available for the county's championship and qualifier commitments. Once that is done, anyone may be considered by the management.
At the meeting county chief executive John Costello outlined the circumstances surrounding the departure of Kelleher's predecessor Marty Morris who, according to Costello, had sought financial compensation for business he would lose by continuing in the Dublin position. The county declined to agree this compensation. Morris had been suggested as a selector for former Dublin football manager Kevin Heffernan who was willing last week to take on the hurling job, but couldn't reach agreement on the question of his selectors.
The decisions bring an end to what has been a traumatic few weeks for Dublin hurling. After the dismissal of Humphrey Kelleher following the heavy defeat by Laois in the championship, players refused to train under an interim management, announced at training last week by county chair John Bailey.
No players were allowed to address the meeting to list their grievances with the interim management proposal. But they had a statement that was circulated to delegates. "From the outset we would like to state that collectively the Dublin hurling squad is 100 per cent committed to representing our county to the very best of our ability in the forthcoming championship matches. Playing hurling for Dublin is of paramount importance to each individual in the squad and it is vital that this is conveyed to every one of you."
