CHAMPIONSHIP 2004: Tipperary footballer Declan Browne has described the heartbreak and disappointment surrounding the team's decision to withdraw from their All-Ireland first round qualifier against Fermanagh, which had been scheduled for tomorrow in Thurles. Fermanagh thus get a walkover into round two, but the situation will have serious repercussions for Tipperary football. Ian O'Riordan reports

Efforts to find some solution to manager Andy Shortall's resignation went late into Wednesday night, but in the end the players felt they had no choice but to make themselves unavailable for selection for the game against Fermanagh. Shortall had stepped down over the county board's failure to postpone a hurling club match, played on Wednesday, and which involved two of his panel members.

"I think the situation is fairly self-explanatory," said Browne, who would have missed the game anyway with a knee injury. "We discussed the situation at some length, but the bottom line was we had no manager and no selectors for the match, and that made it impossible for us to play.

"I know I can speak for all the players when I say I was heartbroken when I heard the news that no agreement could be reached. None of this team trained as hard as they did since last November for this to happen. All we want to do is play football for Tipperary, so it's a big disappointment the way it's worked out. But we're a united bunch of players, and it was an absolutely unanimous decision to adopt the stance we took."

Members of the Tipperary County Board and the football committee had met the panel on Wednesday, and in a statement afterwards county board chairman Donal Shanahan expressed his grave disappointment with their decision, saying it was "a huge setback for football in the county".

The GAA's Games Administration Committee have indicated they will examine the implications of Tipperary's withdrawal, and some sort of penalty, most likely a fine, will be imposed.

The situation appears to be without precedent, but as far as the Tipperary players were concerned supporting the stance of their manager was the only option.

"We just acted the way we felt we had to," added Browne, "and that the only way forward was for us to take that stance. We felt we had to look after ourselves. But that doesn't make it any less devastating.

"And we all felt that way, even the younger lads on the panel, who've come in this year and put in eight or nine months work for this to happen. They must be wondering what's going on here. But the older lads especially had to take a big decision, and fair play to them."

Clearly, part of the footballers' motivation is the perceived preference still being shown to hurling in the county. And Browne dismissed the suggestion of any other rumblings between the management and players and the county board.

"I honestly don't think so. All I know is that there was a request made last week by the management to get this particular match called off, and I don't think it was taken that seriously. That's the only reason I know that's behind it and I'm not aware of any other facts that might have played a role.

"And I'm not aware either that they tried to get a caretaker manager in place. We asked that question, but there didn't appear to be any contingency plan in the process. No one seemed to be there to take over the job."

Browne also spoke on behalf of the team when saying they had genuine ambitions of beating Fermanagh: "Yeah, we felt it was a 50-50 game, and I know it's probably disappointing for Fermanagh's preparations as well. I just hope everyone understands where we are coming from."

Browne was already set on missing the next month of football after undergoing keyhole surgery on a knee cartilage problem last Friday. And while he's still a week short of his 26th birthday, he's not taking anything for granted about his future.

"Who knows, I might have played my last game. I don't know how the injuries and that are going to take their toll over the coming years. I mean there's lot of mileage there already. That's why this situation is so disappointing. Sure, football is my life outside of my work. "

The obvious temptation for a player of Browne's All Star quality would be to look over the boarders, where his services would gladly be accepted. But he insists the controversy has left him no less committed to Tipperary football.

"Oh no, that doesn't come into it all. If I had those thoughts in my mind at all I would have gone with them by now. My desire to play for Tipperary is as strong as ever."

One player who may not have such a certain future is full back Seán Collum, who at 31 represents the older brigade of Tipperary footballer: "No, the whole thing is not satisfactory at all in our opinion. And it's a huge disappointment for everyone involved. All I can add to that is to say the decision was unanimous by the players, but that this is not the way I would like to finish up."