London dispense with manager role

The London County Board have decided against appointing a manager for their senior football side next year, instead opting for just three selectors.

This decision has not gone down well with delegates, with one person exclaiming at a recent meeting: 'it stinks' and 'it will set London football back 20 years.'

The players would appear to be of the same view: 'It's an absolute farce. Football in London will go down the pan,' fumed Paul Hehir, London's most famous homegrown player.

'When Croke Park see this set-up they're going to laugh at us, ask what the point is in paying for teams to travel over and back when London can't get their finger out.

'They'll throw us out of the championship, those players won't have a platform to show their talents and will walk away, and all the efforts made in bringing through homegrown players will be gone to waste."

A committee had been appointed to appoint the 2010 manager after last season's Championship exit at the hands of Down.

But despite three candidates being put forward, including Noel Dunning who took charge of the last five seasons, and interviews taking place, the Board opted for a committee system similar to the one employed by London's hurlers.

This decision came despite Dunning having the backing of the clubs, who voted 15-6 in favour of the incumbent, but with the management committee's vote counting for 12 they had the casting vote.

Chairman Tommy Harrell defended the board's actions, initially insisting the snub to Dunning wasn't personal but he then launched a stinging attack on the outgoing manager.

'At the start of the year 45 people were attending training and despite repeated requests (to reduce it) that continued for quite a long time, which incurred costs between meals and providing everyone with training gear,' explained Harrell.

'The other point made at management was that Noel had no respect for any of the principal officers, and in dealing with the team it was always an anti-county board feeling; it was them and us.'