Former Laois manager Sean Dempsey delivered a message to last Monday night's county board meeting stating that he wanted no thanks from chairman Brian Allen and vice-chairman Gerry Kavanagh for his service to football in the county over the last 15 years.

The request was read out by St Joseph's club secretary, Michael Condron, who expressed disappointment on his club's behalf in the way Dempsey was removed from his post.

The statement read: "Sean Dempsey has requested that no counter proposal to be put before the meeting this evening in relation to his position as senior football manager, and he has also requested that both Brian Allen and Gerry Kavanagh refrain from thanking him for his services to Laois football over the last 15 years, as he believes any such words would have a very hollow ring to them and be very hypocritical."

In response to the statement, Brian Allen said that he believed the right course of action was taken:

"We were the group elected to make a decision, and we said we would lead from the front and make a recommendation first. We believed it was the right thing to do, we were criticised last year for allowing it to go to a meeting, we had to decide whether to recommend him or not, and in this case we decided not to recommend him, and I still think we were right."

Gerry Kavanagh agreed to Dempsey's request and did not thank him, but said he was saddened by the outcome of the whole affair.

"I am disappointed Sean Dempsey has attempted to personalise this, he must have instructed you (Condron), I feel that is personalising it and I am saddened by it," said the vice-chairman. Tweet

Most Read Stories