Under pressure Cork football boss Teddy Holland has launched a broadside at the county squad, describing their defeat to Kerry in the 2007 All-Ireland SFC final as a "capitulation." The players - apparently victorious in their wish to have Holland and his selectors removed and now guaranteed two members on a seven-man committee dedicated to finding a new manager - were the target of severe criticism from Holland in a statement to the media: "I am my own man and I am proud to be a Cork football man," said Holland in his statement. "The notion that the players somehow monopolise a desire to win is a myth. "Last year's All-Ireland final (against Cork) was the most chaotic, abject capitulation in the history of Cork football. "It lacked all the qualities which I stand for. In their more honest moments, the players might reflect on their performances that day and use them as a motivation to drive them forward. "In common with Cork people, I am appalled by the degree of animosity which exists between players and the county board. "During this dispute, the nature of the public and private utterances have been unnecessarily ugly, and hurtful to many people. It is time for it to stop. "The issues of recent weeks must prompt serious reflection on the part of County Board on why this disconnect between players and the board exists. "They (the players) need to recognise that strength of purpose is not the same as extreme action. "I found it extraordinary that they would refuse to allow the Runai of the Association, Paraic Duffy and Kieran Mulvey, the most experienced dispute resolution expert in the country, to speak with them as a group. "Where I come from, that's regarded as offensive and disrespectful. Players must keep in mind that they are carried on the shoulders of tens of thousands of Cork men, women and children who admire them and envy them. "Managers, selectors and boards make an important contribution. To reach a solution, my head on a plate was the players' demand. "I am quite happy in my own skin with what I did. I was not used and was not a pawn in anyone's game. I looked forward to working with the players to improving their performances," Holland said before going on to thank his friends, family and supporters. Tweet

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