Pete McGrath has stood down as Fermanagh senior football manager after four years in the role following last night's meeting of the player representatives who didn't endorse his proposal to stay.
The search now begins for a new manager but who would be in the running?

BigToeJoe (Fermanagh) - Posts: 199 - 14/07/2017 22:36:16    2016717

I think it's shameful that the players wouldn't endorse Pete to stay on. He has given Fermanagh four years of service where year on year Fermanagh's finest have dropped off and thrown in the towel.
If a great man like Pete McGrath can't get everybody to commit, then the new manager has no chance.
Fermanagh football is going to go to a very low place.

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1948 - 14/07/2017 23:16:22    2016729

cillnaile. (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1007 - 15/07/2017 09:47:19    2016782

Peter is going to address the media on monday.Player power at play again he will be in demand from several counties no doubt.

neutral (None) - Posts: 358 - 15/07/2017 14:12:39    2016904

abc1234 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 409 - 15/07/2017 15:49:37    2016948

Just received this update from a very reliable source.
1. Four players were refusing to play under McGrath's continued watch.
2. A significant number players preferred a change of management.
3. The remaining players didn't mind one way other the other if McGrath were to stay or not.
Hopefully, that helps clarify the issue around McGrath's resignation.

abc1234 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 409 - 15/07/2017 17:10:58    2017007

Pete McGrath reveals his reasons for shock Fermanagh departure:

> Player unrest reached a level where he simply could not continue as manager
> He didn't allow players to stay in a comfort zone
> At different times players weren't allowing management to stay in a comfort zone
> The issues that were mentioned to him were not major issues, and in fact in his view in some cases they were non-issues
> He felt there was great trust

The problem with Pete was he was out of touch with the players and if he had been in touch, then he wouldn't be in the embarrassing position of doing a U turn.

Time to move on and look for someone, maybe Dom Corrigan or his like, to take charge.

gaalltheway (Fermanagh) - Posts: 806 - 16/07/2017 23:09:01    2017768

Yes 'out of touch' about sums it up! With players voting 21-9 against endorsing McGrath continuing as manager makes it clear that the team want is a new manager at the helm. McGrath talks about player unrest but he doesn't tell us what the real issues because he might not want the wider public to know! Yes, Dom would be a definite manager candidate that players would warm to easily.

Coa_gael (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1185 - 17/07/2017 13:22:01    2018102

music to the ears!!
Dom di domty dom dom dom

hairyhorse (Fermanagh) - Posts: 94 - 17/07/2017 16:36:26    2018253

On his reappointment, I like most of the players felt gutted. Both McGrath and the county board have now been taught a lesson and that's they weren't allowed to swipe players' concerns under the Brewster carpet.

What's now needed is an O'Neill type manager to plan the team's path to success again and one that is home grown that the players can collectively respect. So called blow-ins managers are just here as a bridging gap in their career and come with a sizable invoice.

Appoint a local source manager and let this be a new dawn for Fermanagh!!

YesterdaysMan (Fermanagh) - Posts: 732 - 17/07/2017 18:46:04    2018333

Heard the rumours that Dom is signed on, don't think that's a good road to head down

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 17/07/2017 21:35:50    2018385

erneboy (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1402 - 17/07/2017 22:05:40    2018396

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 18/07/2017 09:37:52    2018490

First of all in reply to gotmilk, on speaking to some players who were managed by McGrath they have made some quite negative comments including responses such as "stubborn as a mule" have been suggested.
Anyway, back to the future and to a positive pathway, a county board source said that Corrigan is the hot favourite at the moment.
The former inter-county manager also managed the Fermanagh senior team in 2003. Currently managing Tyrone senior champions, Killyclogher, he has hinted previously that he would be interested in returning to the Fermanagh post as he sees great talent in the squad and some untapped potential out there in the clubs.
As an inter-county manager at all levels and a club manager with a range of teams across the province, if his experience was measured in wealth he would be worth a quid or two. Dom has been synonymous with Gaelic football as a PE teacher at St Michael's College for over 30 years and knows the game through and through having himself played as a full-forward for Fermangh and, when he was manager, guided them to the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2003.
As always though, it is the continuing development of the player that is central to Dom's philosophy and it remains the same whether at college, club or inter county level. One time when he was asked about player commitment he said "If a player doesn't have the required commitment, then he won't enter the equation, it is as simple as that".
Hopefully, the county board will sort out the management vacancy without delay to help reinstate player morale which has dissipated recently and rapidly under McGrath's watch.

cillnaile. (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1007 - 18/07/2017 10:16:26    2018510

I just cant believe is how this whole process was handled.

Nontheism (Fermanagh) - Posts: 105 - 18/07/2017 10:32:31    2018514

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 18/07/2017 10:47:33    2018520

Hey milky you say what really motivates Dom? Well it's success! Not just past, not just recent success, but continuing over the last 30 years or so and unlike McGrath whose claim to fame was as Down manager several decades ago when Down had the best set of senior players ever!

SkeaLad (Fermanagh) - Posts: 513 - 18/07/2017 11:23:28    2018540

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 18/07/2017 14:03:05    2018645

gotmilk you are a lone voice in your view of Corrigan as the rest of the posters seem to think he is the perfect fit for Fermanagh manager having had an noteworthy managerial career and in many cases knowing the footballers personally having trained them at St Micks College. No better man to take the reigns at the crucial time in the team's history.

barneytown (Fermanagh) - Posts: 294 - 18/07/2017 15:42:32    2018729

The Pete McGrath departure has been handled dreadfully by the County board. Why did they sanction his extension for 2018 without engaging with the players and understanding what the issues were and ironing them if possible before making the appointment. Undue haste ...... Pete has been poorly treated however why is no one asking the questions as to why if everything was rosy with him in charge, why have so many players left the panel. There will always be retirements but what about the good young players like James Allen, James McMahon, Tom Clarke and Ciaran Corrigan to name but a few. . . . . . Dom for manager .......Are you serious ? Have you all got short memories ?. Time to look at some new blood ....... What about Kieran Donnelly with his experience with Omagh CBS , Cavan Gaels and latterly Scotstown or Nigel Seaney who did a fanatstic job in managing Trillick to a county title. Open the eyes lads .

thewayiseeit (UK) - Posts: 47 - 18/07/2017 17:09:49    2018806