JOINT MANAGER FERGAL O’Donnell and two selectors quit the Roscommon senior football setup last night and claimed that there had been “a concerted effort… to undermine and disparage us.”
O’Donnell met with co-manager Kevin McStay and senior county officials on Tuesday night and informed them of his decision to resign after just one year in charge.
Selectors David Casey and Stephen Bohan also stepped down, leaving McStay and selector Liam MacHale in place for now.
The Roscommon management committee are due to meet tonight to discuss the fallout and the managerial team for 2017.
“Having been asked 12 months ago to contribute to making Roscommon a force again over a three-year term, we were wholeheartedly committed to achieving that goal,” O’Donnell, Casey and Bohan said in a statement issued to RTÉ.
Our decision to depart now is made in the best interests of Roscommon football and with a view to removing the inevitable distraction that would result from a potentially divisive contest for the position of manager between myself and Kevin (McStay).Recently, a concerted effort has been made (outside of management and players) to undermine and disparage us and it is especially disappointing and damaging that those involved purport to be concerned about the promotion of GAA within the county.
O’Donnell and McStay were appointed on a joint ticket last September and handed a three-year term by the county board.
But after retaining their Division 1 status with a strong league campaign, the Rossies disappointed in the championship, losing to Galway after a replay in the Connacht final before crashing out against Clare in the qualifiers.
“Roscommon GAA would like to take this opportunity to thank Fergal O’Donnell for his long and dedicated service to Roscommon GAA and also thanks to David Casey and Stephen Bohan who have been great servants of the GAA in Roscommon,” a county board statement read.
“We wish themselves and their families the very best for the future.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
