Eugene McGee, the man who masterminded Offaly’s historic 1982 All-Ireland senior football triumph, is to mediate in the impasse which has left the county’s senior footballers on strike.
An emergency meeting of Offaly county board last night heard that McGee has offered to facilitate talks between the board and the striking footballers.
It emerged last night that McGee, clearly aware there was trouble in the air, had offered to mediate between the board and team manager Gerry Fahy as far back as last month.
Fahy and his selectors Matt Connor and Mark Plunkett resigned on Monday night, and the players went out on strike on Tuesday.
Chairman Byrne told last night’s meeting in the Tullamore Court hotel that the board only received a statement of the players’ grievances at 6.30pm, an hour and a half before the meeting.
Byrne read out the full statement from the players, which contained 17 points of dispute.
These focused mainly on the quality of facilities and preparations for the county team, and board officers and delegates said they felt there was nothing excessive in the players’ demands.
They added that they were deeply unhappy with the playing out of this controversy in the public eye, and there were calls for the next meeting of the board to be held in camera.
Last night’s meeting, which lasted just half an hour, could yet pave the way for the return of Gerry Fahy and his selectors Mark Plunkett and Matt Connor.
Although the players did not seek his return in their statement, it is likely to emerge as a point of discussion during the peace talks.
Referring to the fact Offaly might soon be appointing their fourth manager in as many years, the players concluded their statement with the declaration: "It’s embarrassing, unhelpful and uninspiring for the panel to have such a dramatic management turnover in a short space of time."
Filed by Barry McEneaney
