If former Galway captain and manager Conor Hayes was in Anthony Cunningham's shoes, he would walk away.

Speaking to The Independent, Hayes was critical of the circumstances that have led to the current impasse, questioning why the County Board pressed ahead with Cunningham's ratification.

Irrespective of that, the last Galway man to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup can only see one outcome if the players are adamant that there needs to be change.

"That's the key to it. If this was known by the Board - players and management obviously knew it - it should have been thrashed out and his ratification shouldn't have come up until next week.

"They should have given themselves a week. Say to the players, 'our intention is to ratify Anthony, ye seem to have difficulties, what are they? What can we do to sort this out?'

"If they can't then they can't go ahead with (ratification) and they're going to have to sit down with Anthony, say 'this doesn't look like it's going to work'.

"If the players are strong enough on it, it's a difficult one for him. If you plough on with that hanging over you, bar you win every game between now and next September, it's going to be just a case of hanging there."

He continued: "Players generally are beginning to have much more of a say. If it's (the sentiment for change) as strong as it seems then I don't think there is any way back for anybody.

"I'd do what the Mayo lads (Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes) did and walk away. If you plough on (and) there is a strong element against you there then there is no future in it.

"If it is (strong) he doesn't have much choice. You can't take on the players in that situation. If it's not, maybe there is a way back.

"It's not good especially after an All-Ireland final. It was't dealt with well, whether it's strong or weak by the players, strong or weak from Anthony Cunningham. If this was known then it should have been thrashed out. As it is, now we're talking about issues that no one really knows anything about."

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