Richie Connor has quit as Offaly senior football manager with immediate effect after the Walsh Island native tendered his resignation with the Offaly GAA County Board this morning.
It leaves the Faithful County searching for their fourth manager in as many years, with previous managers Pat Roe and Kevin Kilmurray also failing to see out their terms.
Statements from both Connor and Offaly Chairman Pat Teehan were released this afternoon through the Offaly County Board.
O'Connor's 570-word statement shed further light on the time-line of events over the past week which led to him eventually resigning just five weeks into his term of office.
‘I tendered my resignation as Offaly Senior Football manager to Pat Teehan Chairman of Offaly County Board this afternoon. While I regret this course of action I feel it is in the best interest of Offaly football.
‘I considered my position earlier in the week when nine players contacted the County Chairman withdrawing from the panel on Monday last.
'However, as three of those players were not on the official panel of 30, only two of the players lined out against Roscommon, two more appeared as subs, and the other two were not part of the 24 man league panel for Sunday last, I felt that I could continue to progress Offaly football without these players.
‘Two of the more influential players of this group had a history of leaving county panels in the past. On Tuesday a team player and a fringe panel player also contacted the County Chairman withdrawing.
‘The team player had no issue with the team management but felt he could not afford the time away from his business if there was not a full commitment from all players.
'I then decided I would not make up my mind until I knew what the players' grievances were.’
‘I called a meeting for Tuesday evening when all but one of the aggrieved players failed to turn up, and this player had very few concerns, all of which could be addressed.
‘His main grievance was that he felt he was overlooked for a first team position the previous Sunday. Therefore I was still not in a position to assess the situation in full.
‘On Wednesday I met the County Chairman and we agreed that the chairman should meet the players to discuss their grievances given that the players had made the unusual step of contacting the chairman in the first instance.
‘This meeting was arranged for Saturday afternoon and 24 players attended. However, it transpired that 22 players had a meeting of their own the previous evening.
'At their meeting with the chairman following his address to them they failed to engage with him other than to say they had no confidence in the management team and 20 of the 24 players walked out of the meeting.
‘Despite this a number of players subsequently distanced themselves from this action, and at least 19 players had committed to training in Walsh Island on Sunday morning. This was cancelled due to snow.
Connor added, ‘I and my team management have now decided that in order to avoid conflict among the footballers themselves we will step aside.
'I would sincerely hope that if players have a grievance in the future they afford the manager the courtesy of bringing it to his attention, before putting it in the public domain.
'I wish to thank all of my backroom staff and I am grateful for the full support of selectors Ollie Daly and Mark Plunkett.
'I also wish to thank Physical Trainer Jimmy Dunne, Conditioning Specialist Sean Sweeney, Chartered Physiotherapist Michelle Crowley, Doctor Michael Haverty, Team Liaison Officer Eamonn Cusack, kit men Paul Corrigan and Declan Kelly, and anyone else who has assisted me during my five week tenure.
‘I especially wish to thank the county board Chairman Pat Teehan for his help and support. I wish the players and whoever takes over every success in the future and hope that they have at least as much enjoyment and success as I had wearing the Faithful jersey.’
In his statement Teehan thanked Connor and his back-room team for their contribution to Offaly football.
‘While I always respected and indeed expected players to air any grievances they had I was greatly disappointed that they did not at least give Richie Connor or county board officials the courtesy of discussing these grievances with them.’
Teehan paid tribute to the contribution Connor had made to Offaly football as a player, particularly in captaining Offaly to a memorable All-Ireland success over Kerry in 1982.
‘Richie Connor owed Offaly football nothing and I regret that he has not been afforded a reasonable opportunity to give back some of his vast experience towards managing the Offaly senior football team.’
Teehan added, ‘I also wish to thank selectors Ollie Daly and Mark Plunkett and all the backroom staff for their commitment to Offaly football.’
Finally he said, ‘While this is a very disappointing day for Offaly football we must now try to move forward and retrieve the situation as best we can in the best interest of Offaly GAA.
‘In this regard Offaly's County Committee will hold a meeting tomorrow night to decide on the procedure for finding a successor to Richie.’
