Crisis in Offaly Football: I'd say we're on a par with the footballers in regard to treatment. Neville Coughlan, who plays with the footballers, will let us know what type of training they're doing but generally we're two very independent groups, which is the same in most counties.

Earlier in the year our physio used to bring two masseurs along so that the lads could get a rub if they needed it. Midway through the season they were told that they couldn't be brought along anymore.

I understand that county boards are trying to cut down, particularly with the cost of playing gear but this shouldn't be at the expense of players' welfare.

Most of these issues can be addressed without going public, but the footballers have bigger grievances and believe that the relationship they have built with their manager counts for nothing.

Both panels have had problems with having to train in different grounds. Tullamore, where we normally train, was undergoing work and we ended up going to six or seven different venues. At the end of the day, though, players get on with it.

It doesn't take much to please players, particularly if a panel is young. They're just happy to be there and it's only as players get older they begin to realise they're putting in four and five nights a week. You want more from the county board and team management so maybe you make a little bit of noise.

But it takes a lot of aggravation to get players' backs up. Offaly footballers obviously felt that that level had been reached.

With talks under way I'd say the problems will be sorted out, but if they aren't and the whole thing goes down to the wire it's likely the hurlers would be sympathetic to supporting the footballers. Wherever you go in the GAA, players support players.

I have generally kept out of any major confrontation with the county board. Major issues tend to arise at the start of the season and my father was often being interviewed for the manager's job so I stayed clear of it. His name was nearly always linked with the county job, even the last time when Mike Mac was appointed.

It's the county board's job to appoint managers so even though I'd be disappointed for the father I always felt I was there to hurl. I've said before that players don't play for managers. They play for themselves, their club, their county and families.

I remember once after training one Sunday we were given the pick of the menu. At that stage we were used to getting pasta so this was great news and a few of the fellas had steaks. Word got back to the football panel and by the following Tuesday night we were back on the pasta. That sort of thing is disappointing, but again you take what you get.

The most annoying episode was in 2000. Hubert Rigney was back in training after injury, but suddenly we were told that because the panel could be only 24, he would be omitted from the panel. This is someone who had captained Offaly to an All-Ireland and would have been on the team if it wasn't for the injury.

I knew Hubert well - he worked with me - and he was terribly upset but asked us all not to make an issue of it coming up to the final. I always believed if management had insisted on it, the county board would have backed down.

On the other hand, I've been playing on the senior panel since 1989 and things have definitely improved. Mileage is better and expenses are paid a lot quicker.

In relation to the lack of continuity in management, the hurlers have been putting up with that for a long time. Even Michael Bond, who had the job for two and a half years, did his time over two separate appointments. I don't think it made much difference to be honest.

I thought Mike McNamara would go after losing to Clare but the more time went by, the more I realised he was interested in staying on. It was a mistake to agree to meet the clubs to talk about it - that's about 50 delegates. The decision should be up to the executive. I don't think there was any major opposition to him continuing, but whatever he heard helped make up his mind not to stick around.

It won't be easy getting a new manager and it may be time to appoint someone in-house.

Who's going to want to get involved now that we're in Division Two of the league? The county semi-finals are coming up next week and that'll be the last chance to see players in meaningful action.

My father's name has been mentioned, but I can't see him coming back after putting in a year's work with Limerick. I'd have a great interest in helping Offaly hurling in the long term, but I wouldn't see myself getting involved in management at this stage. I'd have to learn my trade at a club first.

On the playing front, I'll be thinking about my own position in the months ahead - seeing who takes over as manager and that - before taking a decision.