Fergal O’Donnell, the Joint Manager of the Roscommon GAA Senior Football Team, Selector Stephen Bohan and Coach David Casey have all left the Teamn Management Set-up.
A statement released a short time ago said “Yesterday evening Tuesday, Roscommon GAA County Board Chairperson Seamus Sweeney and County Board Secretary Brian Carroll met with the joint managers of the Roscommon Senior Football team Fergal O’Donnell and Kevin McStay to review 2016.”
“During the meeting Fergal O’Donnell announced his intention to resign from his position as joint manager of the Senior Football team along with team selectors David Casey and Stephen Bohan with immediate effect.”
“Roscommon GAA would like to take this opportunity to thank Fergal O’Donnell for his long and dedicated service to Roscommon GAA and also thanks to David Casey and Stephen Bohan who have been great servants of the GAA in Roscommon. We wish themselves and their families the very best for the future.”
The statement concluded by saying that the “Roscommon GAA Management (Executive) Committee will meet tonight to discuss the senior team management for 2017.”
It is unclear yet if further members of the backroom team / support team will depart.
A statement released by the trio said
“It is with much regret and disappointment that myself, Stephen Bohan and David Casey have decided to resign from our roles as joint manager and selectors with the Roscommon senior football team.
“Having been asked 12 months ago to contribute to making Roscommon a force again over a three-year term, we were wholeheartedly committed to achieving that goal. Our decision to depart now is made in the best interests of Roscommon football and with a view to removing the inevitable distraction that would result from a potentially divisive contest for the position of manager between myself and Kevin (McStay).
“Recently, a concerted effort has been made (outside of management and players) to undermine and disparage us and it is especially disappointing and damaging that those involved purport to be concerned about the promotion of GAA within the county.
“We want to thank the backroom team, the County Board, our generous sponsors, our loyal supporters, Club Rossie and most importantly the players for their dedication, sacrifice and commitment to Roscommon’s cause.”
The statement concluded by saying “Roscommon has a hugely talented group of footballers. Now, as supporters, we share the hope that they will continue to learn, develop and ultimately fulfil their potential. To this end, we wish the team every success in the future.”
It is a case of history repeating itself in Roscommon. Just over 12 months ago a “concerted effort” by unelected individuals led to the departure of John Evans as Senior Football Team Manager.