Meath manager blasts County Board in resignation letter

June 29, 2015

Diane O'Hora

Meath ladies senior footballers are on the lookout for a new manager after Diane O'Hora quit following yesterday's Leinster semi-final defeat at the hands of Westmeath in Mullingar.

The Royal ladies suffered a similar fate as their male counterparts and, afterwards, former Mayo star O'Hora, who guided Down to intermediate honours last year, slammed the 'disrespectful treatment' of players in a strongly-worded resignation letter.

"It is with great disappointment that I must write this letter, after the 25 years of inter county experience as a player, coach and manager, to resign my position as Meath Ladies Senior Manager.

"It saddens me that this management team can no longer put up with the treatment of our own selves in what we are trying to achieve and most especially the disrespectful treatment of players.

"Meath, for 15 years, has not had continuous management or been successful for those same 15 years.  In situations like this, something must change.  As we all know, the talent is there and I felt I was the right person to lead the way for what would be a changed model of a modern and professional approach to build on the great success of under age.

"Having asked the county board for their three to five year strategic plan, I'm still shocked to have not received it.  Where, without leadership is the county going?

"Not being permitted to meet with the clubs in order to share ideas and find a common ground to help encourage players to play county, numbers have been a huge issue all year. Again we got no help here from the chairperson and from the board although requests were made on numerous occasions.

"In an age where player welfare is an absolute priority, our preparations for championship were nowhere near the professional standard I have been privileged to have experienced in Mayo, Roscommon, Longford and Down.

"This was all due to the lack of support for requests made by senior management. I have never in 25 years been in a county that permits clubs to play challenge matches the week of a senior county championship game.

"I have also never in all of my years seen players been asked to go from a county championship game to a club championship game. The governing body of this county should be protecting players and not letting this happen!

"To add to this disrespect one club that in fact encourages their players to come out and represent their county are almost punished for 'same' by giving them only one day in between Senior County Championship and Senior Club Championship games.

"How much more an advantage does that really give the opposition in terms of rest and preparation?

"I thank all of those clubs that have encouraged their players to come and play senior county football and I now clearly see some reasons why other clubs are not being represented. Why would they be with a day's rest being all that's catered for from Inter County Senior Championship and County Club Championship?"


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