Kernan pulls the plug

HERE we go again. The search for a new Galway senior football manager begins this morning following the resignation of Joe Kernan earlier this week – less than 11 months after he was appointed.

The Armagh man, who was unveiled with such razzmatazz as Galway manager at Tuam Stadium last September, formally tendered his resignation to the Chairman of the football Board, John Joe Holleran, with a letter which arrived by post on Tuesday.

And a tug of war between Galway’s Football Board and the Sligo County Board could ensue in the coming weeks over the bookies’ front-runner to replace Kernan, current Sligo manager and Killanin man Kevin Walsh – the Chairperson of the Sligo County Board has expressed his confidence to Tribune Sport that Walsh will remain with the Yeats County for a third year in 2011.

Kernan, Holleran and at least two other senior football Board officials met as planned at Ionad peile na Gaillimhe, Loughgeorge last Thursday night to review Galway’s progress under the Crossmaglen man this season, which ended in a very disappointing home defeat to Wexford in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Given that both the football Board and Kernan had indicated that they did not wish to part company for at least another year, there was some surprise –although no real shock – in GAA circles in the county that he had stepped down.

Tribune Sport understands that Kernan outlined at the meeting that he wanted to stay on as manager for another year and the Board were also anxious that he would remain in place but there was one insurmountable obstacle to that happening – Kernan’s trainer and fitness, strength and conditioning coach.

Kernan insisted that the two men who he brought with him should remain on – keeping the backroom men in place was his ‘line in the sand’ – but it is understood the football Board had concerns in relation to the cost of Kernan’s ancillary backup.

It is understood players were generally happy with the training and conditioning personnel, although the football Board was hoping to appoint fitness and training from within Galway, leaving genuine surprise among senior players this week at Kernan’s decision because they were expecting that he would be retained for another year at least.

If Kernan had brought success – or at least shown signs of real progress and potential – and possibly led this team to an All-Ireland quarter-final, resources may not be an issue but the football Board couldn’t justify keeping his backroom team when the expertise was available locally.

Holleran did not return calls ahead of a meeting of the Board and club representatives at Loughgeorge on Wednesday night where the resignation was due to be formally relayed to club delegates and the fallout debated.

Kernan also refused to be drawn on the matter either until the message was announced at the Board meeting. “I can say nothing until after the meeting tonight,” Kernan told Tribune Sport yesterday.

He added, “I told the football Board I wouldn’t be talking to anybody until after the meeting. In fairness to the football Board we said we wouldn’t talk – we went into the job with good will and we’ll go out in good will.”

Kernan’s appointment was seen by many as a major coup for Holleran who – anxious to secure an All-Ireland title during his five-year tenure as Chairman – headhunted and persuaded him to come west to Galway.

But in a county with such a proud footballing tradition as Galway, there were always going to be a large chunk of followers who had doubts about the appointment of an outsider, and particularly an Ulsterman, who implemented a style that grated with purists.

For the full report and analysis see page 56 of this week’s Connacht Tribune.