Departing Wicklow football manager Harry Murphy has warned against the re-introduction of an All-Ireland 'B' SFC.

Murphy - who took over from Mick O'Dwyer in late 2011 - announced his decision to quit the Garden County yesterday citing business commmitments.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, he rejected the suggestion that a 'B' style championship would help bridge the gap between the weaker counties and the Dublin's, Donegal's and Kerry's of this world.

"The minute you put 'B' in front of anything, people will lose interest," the former Rathnew manager suggested.

"Players have to be able to dream, they have to have that motivation of pitting themselves against the best and believing they have a chance against them.

"They'd rather go down to Killarney or to Croke Park to lose to Kerry or Dublin, than play in some kind of lesser competition and not get respect.

"Players are giving up their lives to play inter-county now. Some counties will probably never get to sup at the top table but they still deserve a chance to try."

The successful Division 4 campaign of 2012 was the highlight of Murphy's three years at the helm of the Leinster minnows.

"My biggest disappointment was that we went back down the following year, but the problem was that we were hit by losing our top three forwards."

Injuries deprived Murphy of the services of Leighton Glynn and Seanie Furlong in 2013 while he lost Tony Hannon to retirement.

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