The Clare hurling dispute is over after manager Mike McNamara tendered his resignation last night. McNamara, who held the post for two years, announced his decision to step down along with selectors Ollie Baker and Alan Cunningham at a specially convened county board meeting in Ennis' West County Hotel. Double All-Ireland winner Ger 'Sparrow' O'Loughlin is expected to be appointed as McNamara's successor at tomorrow night's county convention. O'Loughlin, who has guided Adare to the last three Limerick SHC titles, was proposed by chairman Michael O'Neill at last night's meeting, but his appointment wasn't ratified as delegates asked for time to discuss the matter with their clubs. However, as he's the only candidate for the post, his appointment is seen as a formality. McNamara's resignation brings to an end a messy two-month saga which was sparked after the players expressed a vote of no confidence in the manager following one of the Banner County's poorest seasons on record. The county's only competitive win came in a Liam McCarthy Cup relegation playoff against Wexford in July, which proved to be McNamara's last game in charge. The players sent a letter to the Clare county board in October outlining their grievances and calling for change on the sideline. However, officials supported the management team to remain at the helm for the 2010 campaign. Subsequently, former All Star Tony Griffin announced his retirement from inter-county hurling. After a series of postponed meetings, the board, players and McNamara came face-to-face 10 days ago in Ennis but those talks failed to break the deadlock and none of the parties had met since. McNamara and his management team were not present at last night's meeting, but a resignation letter on their behalf was read out by Clare secretary Pat Fitzgerald. In the letter, the Scariff man said he was "very disappointed" that he had to resign and claimed a lot of the issues that led to the vote of no confidence in him arose from disciplinary matters. He also claimed he had no choice but to walk away, adding that he had given much to Clare hurling and he thanked delegates for backing him, even when it was clear that the players wanted him out. County PRO Syl O'Connor said that McNamara and his selectors reached the decision "in the best interest of Clare hurling". "Based on what had happened over the last couple of weeks, the management of the county senior team tendered their resignation in the best interest of Clare hurling," he said. "They thanked the delegates who had endorsed them and took full responsibility for results this year. "However, they felt that the removal of a certain player from the squad had instigated the unrest which brought them to this juncture and to this decision. They said they were stepping down with regret and disappointment but they felt that for the good of Clare hurling this was the only move which was left open to them." O'Connor added that there was huge sympathy amongst delegates for the trio. "A lot of those present felt it was a sad night for Clare GAA. Many said that the county had lost three great hurling men in this dispute." "Both the chairman of the board and outgoing hurling manager Mike McNamara stressed that they want a line drawn in the sand and all want to put Clare hurling back where it should be as quickly as possible." Tweet

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