Clare secretary Pat Fitzgerald believes that there was a campaign in the county to remove his son Davy as senior hurling manager.

Davy Fitz stepped down after Clare were eliminated from this year's championship, but rumours have circulated that there were a large number of people within the county against him staying on in the role for another year.

The former Waterford manager has since taken up the same role with Wexford, but Pat Fitzgerald stressed in his annual report that the players themselves need to look at themselves and their performances.

"Davy's tactical approach was criticised, the same approach that had guided them to All-Ireland and national league titles and he appeared under constant scrutiny. Yet the two goals Clare leaked to Galway were horrendous defensive blunders and for those the players have to ship the blame," the Clare secretary writes in his report.

"While Davy had a year to run, he was swimming against the tide as a cohort of people, who never really endorsed his appointment, pushed the keyboards to stir up opposition to him seeing out his tenure.

"When some of the players indicated their wishes for a change, he bowed out in a very dignified manner, thereby eliminating the possibility of acrimony, conflict and bitter division.

"However, in my opinion, there are a small cohort of players that need to analyse their own performance and commitment over recent years. All decision making has to have the imprimatur of the delegates and the clubs that they represent. That's the way it always has been and that's the way it will remain."

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