Owens claims county board wanted Fermanagh beaten

30 June 2011

Barry Owens has made the astonishing claim that members of the Fermanagh county board took delight from the county's disastrous championship exit at the hands of London.

Speaking to this week's Fermanagh Herald, the Erne County captain said: "It is a sad state of affairs when you have people in the county board hoping you are going to be beat."

And the two-time All-Star full back has called on the same individuals to make a quick decision regarding manager John O'Neill's future in the wake of last Saturday's shock defeat in Ruislip.

"There will be plenty of talk as usual but I think whatever decision is made needs to be made quickly. The county board are planning a review and they should do it quickly. It is in everyone's best interests to get everything sorted as soon as possible."

Owens insists that the management shouldn't take all the blame for the defeat.

"People are always quick to blame the management and I'm sure that they have lessons to learn but at the end of the day when the players go out and do the complete opposite to what they are told what can you do?

"We are very young and very inexperienced and there is no doubt that the pressure got to the players on Saturday and that is understandable.

"We have lost a lot of good players this year but I have trained with those young boys who played on Saturday and I know that they have good inter-county futures ahead of them. They have worked hard but we just didn't perform against Derry or London," he added.

The Save Fermanagh Group has already deemed the County Board unfit for purpose and called for John O'Neill to step down as manager of the county senior team. See report findings here http://www.hoganstand.com/fermanagh/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=146213

A new campaign will start shortly on the back of April's survey and the demise Fermanagh finds itself in. You can join the Save Fermanagh campaign on Facebook which will be updated shortly with a new action plan. Click on the following link to support your county http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Save-Fermanagh/100002221246994

Well said Barry Owens. Surely a player of such standing must be listen to?

Out with the County Board!!!
Out with O'Neill!!!

One mst remember that this is only the opinion of one individual.

The criticism of the County board is unwarranted. Let me remind him of their contribution to him both in expenses and associated medical care. His rant will do nothing for his reputation and for him to question O'Neill ability is out of order.

where abouts in that interview did you see him question o'neills ability (although obviously it should be!) and regardless of how much the county board have backed barry with his injuries etc, it doesnt mean he cant speak out when members of the board clearly wanted us beat! for gods sake the role of the county board is to protect and care for players representing their county, especially the best player in the counties history! people like you have made us the laughing stock of ireland and the wider gaa circle. some say it cant get any worse....i dunno!

Congrats to Barry Owens for speaking up and I hope now that the Save Fermanagh campaign will bring about changes that are long overdue.

Good man Barry! This has to be the final nails in the county board and O'Neill's coffins.
No tears will be shed when it occurs hopefully sooner rather than later.

I think it speaks more about the man that he's prepared to stick his head above the parapet for the betterment of his county instead of sticking it in the sand!

As a player and captain of the team he should not be criticised for voicing his concerns on a situation that resembles a shambles when you can't get your best players on the field and the County Board are not doing their job.

He has a good point, but i know that half the county wanted to see them loose. London had odds 7/2 i know i put 20 quid on them.

Barry Owens is a gentleman of the sport and any comment he would make would be genuine and his revelation must be sending shockwaves through the county board and of couse the team management. I see this as the beginning of the end for the county bosses and O'Neill.

horses can I ask this question.........

Why did Barry Ownes not come out and make these comments 4 months ago when it needed to be said along with his fellow players who valiantly decided to take a stand and not accept the standards of the current management set up and the standards of the current county board who have left us in this sorry position.
Instead he fully supported O'Neill and the county board and look what he got in exchange for his support...... a manager who says we can win nothing, and a county board who wants to win nothing.

Horses, when you have certain individuals within the county board happy to keep us in Division 4and out of the championship (I refer you back to a post by Fermanagh_Echo) i am not surprised one bit that Barry has spoken out.

If Barry had of had the good sense to stand beside his brave colleges maybe something could have been done 4 months ago and we would be in a better position now as a county team.
Hindsight is a great thing Barry.

Again I congratulate the erne 11 for making a stand, it seems their decision has been fully justified.

I've Only just got round to reading the herald there now. It seems there is a serious divide between our captain and the out going (hopefully soon) manager. Our manager says in the herald 'this year is no different to any other year' while our captain is quoted on the same page 'this year was certainly different to other years'. What a joke for people (o Neill supporters) on here saying the manager has the support of this years squad. From what I gather there is already 9 players on this tears squad not prepared to go back under o Neill next year!!!!! What will he do then ? Bring in younger players again!!

To ekn teacher and friends- I am fully aware of fermanaghs under age success I. The 60's and 70's, I was clearly talking about the context od senior football. By the way you forgot to mention st.Coles and fermangh college's vocational sun was in the mid 90's.

Fair play to Barry in stating what he did. Barry is as honest as the day is long, I fear that if o Neill stays and yesterday's man gets his way, Barry might not have the hunger to give it another year. Colm Bradley stated it himself - Fermanagh need their best players on the field!! Bear in mind he is a supporter of o Neill and his brother is the trainer- this is a massive statement and a clear message that the only way forward is with a new manager to pull everyone together! Peter mc Ginnity anyone??? I think we can all agree (yesterdays man/ ekn teacher / shows fair included) that the time is eight for a fresh start working together under a man that has everyone's respect!

I genuinely don't want a long drawn out process that will make it worse. Anyone else agree???

Good to see a player of Owens' stature taking a stand and Fermanagh might finally be able to bring abouts changes at long last.

Does Owens speak for the rest of the players he captained? I would think not. Sounds to me like another frustrated hillbilly angry because they failed to impress this season.

I think if you read the article properly you will see Barry in no way criticises the management and blames the players including himself for not performing in London, this is further backed up in the Impartial and it is only certain people on county board who he criticises. From what I am hearing from other players he in no way and never has supported those that walked away people are just taking what they want from articles.

Player3 - hi paul why did u not get on the team before ur brother?

Has Owens got the support of the team to speak out? If not what authority has he to speak about the county board or indeed question is they are going to sort out the manager's job. Thought his outburst was quite cheeky given the fact that he has only returned to the team after two yaers and a lot of expense to the GAA.

Barry Owens has done more for Fermanagh football than the county board ever have!

barneytown

barry owens has every right to speak out! and let me tell ya barry owens might not of played over this last 2years but he never left the squad he was at every match with the team over them 2 years!!! (if you went to the games you would of seen this) all barry owens wants to do is to play football at the highest standard, and you mustn't know the man if you question him about expences!!!!!

Barry Owens is a Hero

Barry Owens is a man who knows what he is talking about,its bad when he speaks out to the media,if he had realised it sooner then perhaps action could have been taken before last wkds low ebb