ÉAMONN FITZMAURICE IS set to stay on as Kerry senior football manager for the final year of his current term with an official announcement expected this week.
The Kerry manager gave a strong indication at the weekend that he would remain in charge when he met close to forty players at the Brehon Hotel in Killarney on Sunday evening.
In the wake of Kerry’s disappointing display in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat at the hands of Mayo, there had been some speculation over the 2014 All-Ireland winning manager’s future.
It is believed that suggestions of changes to his management team are unfounded with selectors Mikey Sheehy, Maurice Fitzgerald and Liam Hassett likely to stay on.
There may be changes elsewhere in the backroom team but that is set to be revealed in the official statement. Kerry chairman Tim Murphy is due to meet Fitzmaurice this week to finalize plans for the 2018 season which should see some exciting young talent from the recent All-Ireland minor winning sides getting plenty of league action.
At a county board meeting in September, Fitzmaurice was endorsed by Murphy, who called for patience from Kerry supporters after a season where the Kingdom claimed league and Munster honours but failed to reach the September All-Ireland decider.
“Last Saturday week was a very disappointing day for Kerry as we lost to Mayo at the second attempt after drawing the first day,” remarked Murphy at that meeting.
“I would like to thank Éamonn Fitzmaurice and his management team for all their efforts during the year. There has been a lot of commentary in the media but I would ask delegates to realize that it is very important to remember that Kerry is going through a transition period.
“People need to allow the management team a bit of latitude over the next while to bring the undoubted talent that we have at underage level through to senior level.
“It doesn’t happen by waving a magic wand and I think there is time required. The management team needs to be afforded the time and the opportunity to bring those players through to fruition”
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