The Carlow senior football squad have hit back at the claim that "player-related issues" had prompted the departure of manager Shane Curran and his backroom team during the week.
Curran abruptly quit as manager on Wednesday, 11 days out from Carlow's Leinster championship opener against Meath, with a statement released from the county board saying the manager's departure was due to "player-related issues which he believed were beyond the scope of the management team".
This afternoon, the Carlow players released their own statement to local media in the county, saying that "player-related issues" were not to blame for the managerial upheaval and that they had "persistent concerns about the overall organisation and training environment" in place since the start of the year.
They also fired back at the notion that players remaining in London following their one-point win in Ruislip last Sunday was reflective of a lack of commitment, stressing that this had been agreed with management beforehand.
In a bullet-pointed statement, the Carlow players said they wish to clarify the following.
"Player-related issues were not to blame for the departure of the management team on the brink of the championship and we believe this has been used to question our commitment and dedication.
"There were persistent concerns with the overall organisation and training environment throughout the league. Players had communicated their frustrations to both the management team and the county board for many weeks.
"This resulted in a number of players opting out of the panel and a selector removing himself from the management team.
"To suggest the players lack commitment - particularly by referencing players staying in London after a game - is both unfair and misleading. This had been communicated and agreed with management in advance. We are amateur athletes, and what we do in our personal lives should not be used to deflect from other issues. For this now to be used as a means of disparaging players is distasteful.
"We want to emphasise, we did not want to make any public comment on this and would have preferred to part ways with the management team as amicably as possible. Now we feel we have no other choice as our character and dedication to the Carlow jersey has been questioned."
The statement concluded with the Carlow players that their focus was on playing Meath, "where it should be" and that they wished the outgoing management team all the best.
Carlow are now without a manager heading into their Leinster championship campaign, which commences away to Meath in Páirc Tailteann on Sunday week.
Former Roscommon goalkeeper Curran had been installed as Carlow manager last autumn, succeeding Niall Carew.
In his sole campaign in charge, Carlow finished fourth in Division 4, with three wins, three losses and a draw, ending up three points adrift of promotion.
