As expected, Clare hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has made changes to his backroom team for next season.

In a statement, Fitzgerald announced that outgoing senior and U21 coach Paul Kinnerk is taking a year out, while Mike Browne, who had a peripheral role this year, will replace Mike Deegan as a selector. Deegan will, however, remain involved in a reduced capacity, while strength and conditioning coach Joe O'Connor will also have a smaller role to play.

"When sitting down to talk about 2015, our management team faced a number of challenges, not least putting everything into place to get Clare hurling back to Croke Park and winning a senior All-Ireland over the next three years," Fitzgerald said.

"On the management side, there will be some changes, but I would like to stress that these are not major changes. Mike Browne will be joining us as a selector and Mike Deegan will move into the role Mike Browne previously held, so Mike Deegan will still be involved.

"Joe O'Connor has been with me for five years in Waterford and Clare, while he is stepping back, he will still be involved as well.

"Paul Kinnerk has been with us for three years as well as combining that role with a key role with the U21s. He has said to us numerous times about his wish to take some time out to travel and take a break from the serious time commitments his roles involve. We not only support Paul in his intention to step back, but we are also delighted to announce that he will be with us again in 2016."

The All-Ireland winning manager has also clarified his position on the dual player issue. Recently, it was confirmed that brothers Podge and Sean Collins will play football only in 2015.

"Podge Collins informed us a while back that in 2015 he will be playing football only," Fitzgerald said in a separate statement.

"We have no issue with that, except of course we'd love to have him with us. We tried to accommodate the dual player in 2014 and it did not work for either part in our opinion, player or management. This was not the reason we did not win a Munster or All-Ireland championship, we are well aware of that. However, it was one of many factors.

"For the coming year, we want players on our panel fully committed to Clare hurling. We spoke to Podge and explained out position. We felt Clare hurling suffered last year as he attempted both codes.

"We did not have Podge with us as often as we would have liked and we felt his recovery between games was not what it could have been.

"There is no issue with Podge or Sean Collins, we wish them well with the Clare footballers in Division 3 and we hope that their progress under Colm Collins continues. Colm is their father, it can't have been easy for them."

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