Player power forced Michael Ryan out of the Waterford hurling manager's job, it has emerged.

The Waterford county board announced yesterday that the Fourmilewater clubman wouldn't be seeking a third year in change amid reports that members of the 2012 squad - on the recommendation of this year's squad - had met with the county board last week seeking a change of management.

Following on from that meeting, and a second meeting among members of the 2012 squad in the Ramada Hotel yesterday morning, Waterford PRO Emer Barry issued the following short statement: "Michael Ryan has officially informed Waterford county board that he will not be seeking the position of senior hurling team manager for 2014."

The announcement took the hurling world by surprise, especially as Ryan had expressed a wish to continue in the role after the Deise's heart-breaking All-Ireland qualifier extra-time defeat to Kilkenny last month. It was widely agreed that he was building a team that could challenge for major honours in the next couple of years.

"It did take me by surprise," Waterford chairman Tom Cunningham is quoted as saying in the Irish Examiner.

"In his two years there, he did a lot for Waterford hurling. He was a gentleman who did a lot of hard work and he did a lot behind the scenes for Waterford hurling.

"As far as the county board was concerned, he was very easy to get on with. It will be on the agenda for the September meeting of the county board. The board will now decide the format to select a new manager." Tweet

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