FORMER MEATH MANAGER Eamonn Barry says the county are “the laughing stock of the country” following last night’s controversial meeting to vote on the future of manager Seamus McEnaney.

The manager ultimately survived in his role, despite 43 Meath delegates voting to oust him from his position.

Barry was denied permission to speak at the meeting by chairman Barney Allen, and while saying that “you have to respect [Allen's decision],” he proceeded to heavily criticise the chairman.

Speaking on Off the Ball, Barry said:

“The whole thing turned into a complete farce. I knew for a fact that Sean [Boylan] had resigned as Director of Football, because I had been at his house. I was shocked when I heard the chairman say Sean hadn’t resigned, when every well-informed club official knew he had.”

He suggested that Allen was being deliberately misleading, and said that he had secretly offered Boylan the job, while claiming that he assumed McEnaney would resign as the pressure on him mounted.

However, he defended Boylan’s role in the saga, saying:

“The real loser is unfortunately Sean Boylan. He was dragged into it. How the county chairman could offer Sean the position [when McEnaney was still in the role] was a complete shock… Sean will do anything to help his county.”

Barry also advocated the creation of an independent chief executive-style position, which other counties have already adopted, as he claimed Meath GAA “need a review conducted from the top”.

The Royals were recently relegated to the third tier of the National Football League, following their defeat to Louth.

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