Fermanagh manager Pete McGrath.
DOUBLE All-Ireland winning manager Pete McGrath shocked Fermanagh GAA when he resigned from his position as manager on Friday.
McGrath, who had been in the position revealed this week that it was ‘player power’ which led to his departure.
It came just three days after the GAA’s County Board had announced that the Down man had taken the position for another season.
Now the County Board will have to draw up a shortlist of managers interested in the Erne County position, or even approach someone to take the position.
It is believed that McGrath was informed a number of players on the squad were unhappy that they weren’t consulted before the Down man’s ratification last week.
They held a meeting on Thursday evening and later met with the management team and County Board officials to relay their views that they were unhappy with his re-appointment.
That, for McGrath, was the breaking point and after discussion with his management colleagues decided to step down.
In interviews this week he has said that players forcing him out was a mistake. He said the players had been great over his four years in charge, but he felt in this instance that they were wrong and ‘made a mistake’. This week though, the players have been tight lipped.
It will be difficult for the County Board to acquire a manager of McGrath’s calibre, but already a number of names are being thrown into the melting pot including Brookeborough’s Ciaran Donnelly and former manager Dom Corrigan.
• See today’s Fermanagh Herald for full story
Posted: 7:42 am July 19, 2017