FORMER WATERFORD HURLING manager Michael Ryan may put his name forward to be re-appointed as Déise boss.
Speaking for the first time about the player heave that prompted his decision to stand down, Ryan said that he expected to continue on for another two seasons before he learned of the move against him last weekend.
Ryan’s initial two-year term came to an end when Waterford lost to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. A number of the county’s senior players met on Sunday morning and it is understood that they voted 18-10 in favour of a new manager, with some players voting via phone.
Ryan was contacted by the team’s vice-captain Noel Connors at 1pm and a few hours later confirmed that he and his management team would not seek another term in charge.
“I certainly didn’t have any indication at all that there was a problem,” the Fourmilewater man said in an interview with Marty Morrissey on Championship Matters, broadcast last night on RTÉ 2.
“I had been in constant contact with the players, I’m a big players manager and I like to believe that dialogue is very, very important.
On several occasions players would have said to me that things were going well. They would have pointed out to me as well that certain things needed to be improved. Looking back on our year, I thought we had a decent year.
In a statement on Tuesday the Waterford County Board said that they would consider all applications for the position of manager next season, including Ryan should he wish to be considered.
After receiving support from across the hurling community, including Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy and Clare legend Ger Loughnane, he indicated that he will consider going forward for another term.
“A lot of people are contacting me and asking me to put my name into the hat again. I don’t know, I’m going to think about it over the next week or so but I wouldn’t rule anything in or out at this stage.
I believe I have a lot to offer and going forward I hope to be involved with Waterford hurling in the future.We’ll have a serious look at it.
