Former Down All-Ireland winner Conor Deegan says club managers and players are 'being shafted' when it comes to the organising of fixtures.

Deegan is currently managing his native Downpatrick and has previously been in charge of Dublin big guns Ballyboden St Enda's and Kilmacud Crokes in the past and believes that county managers have far too much power over their players and the club fixture schedule throughout the season.

"The problem you have is that you don't get a handle on where your players are. They're with colleges, U-21s, minors, seniors. I'm not trying to complain about it. I'd just like something done about it," the two-time All-Ireland winner told the Irish Independent.

"It's great for a club like ours to have that exposure to other teams but if you don't see them the club has no benefit.

"Our entire association has been built on the goodwill and the help and industry of a lot of human beings over a long period of time. What we currently have is a small minority now dictating what is happening in the country. Club players are being shafted.

"We're struggling with calendars because of the amount of training that counties are doing. The reality is the ratio of training to games is absolutely ridiculous. If it's still 13 to 1 as it was, that's shocking.

"If players were allowed to play more club football, if club football in each county became more competitive, it would have the knock-on effect that the county is slightly more competitive and players are playing better. They (inter-county managers) don't want players playing for their clubs.

"I'm not a maverick, I'm not a rebel. But I know that until players at club level and the clubs stand up and say, 'We can't accept this any longer', it will never change."

Tweet

Most Read Stories