Meyler Gone, New Manager Appointed

wixfjord

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2008/1007/wexford.html?gaa

Was always coming, a lot of unrest between public and players. Possibly a 96 player to replace him? Dunne or Dempsey? Would like to see an established manager myself, but not Loughnanne. Gerald Maccarthy maybe? or Donal Og would be great

Daysha

What about Martin Storey, what's he doing with himself these days?

will1977

Heard of a rumour that there is a Kilkenny man living in Rathnure thats supposed to get it

premierstone

Dont really know much about any unrest or public dissatisfaction as implied in the OP but looking in from the outside this looks like a major co*k up tbh, myler was doing a very good job with extremely limited resources, and added to that now you are also going to have the knock on effect of the footballers resurgence this looks to me to be a very bad day for wexford hurling

cruiserweight

I haven't been home in a while, so I hadn't heard about the unrest and am a bit shocked. The last that I heard both managers were going to be returned for another year.

premierstone wrote: »

Dont really know much about any unrest or public dissatisfaction as implied in the OP but looking in from the outside this looks like a major co*k up tbh, myler was doing a very good job with extremely limited resources, and added to that now you are also going to have the knock on effect of the footballers resurgence this looks to me to be a very bad day for wexford hurling

I assume that you mean limited resources in terms of players? I thought Meyler was doing a decent job. League and All-Ireland semis in 2007. I think the biggest problem in 2008 was the loss to Antrim, that was the difference between relegation and the knock out stages in the league. As for the championship in 2008, we were not great, but still within 1 point of another semi final.

Het-Field

Wexford hurling deteriorated rapidly in 2008. They were damn lucky to beat Dublin this year, and after that they bumbled through to a final debacle against Kilkenny they were hit by Antrim.

They needed something new and fresh.

cruiserweight

Het-Field wrote: »

Wexford hurling deteriorated rapidly in 2008. They were damn lucky to beat Dublin this year, and after that they bumbled through to a final debacle against Kilkenny they were hit by Antrim.

They needed something new and fresh.

Dublin are improving, but Wexford are still a better team IMO. In the final they battled with Kilkenny for 35 minutes and then were completely outclassed in the second half. Nobody was close to Kilkenny in the championship this year, not an excuse, Wexford need to improve.

What I liked about Meyler is that he was trying to put a strong spine of the team into place. If we get a few players back fit Wexford should improve next year, I am just worried about who will be in place to do it.

ShagNastii

This will be nothing but good for Wexford hurling, I'll pray for a griffin return but that definately ain't happening

cruiserweight

Brian Carthy interview with Meyler http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/mediaplayer.html?features,2433080,2433080,0,209 Sounds like he was shafted from the interview

yahoo_moe

Het-Field wrote: »

Wexford hurling deteriorated rapidly in 2008.

I don't agree - I thought they got better as the year went on myself. Poor against Dublin, but then played some decent stuff at times against Kilkenny (and most important, stuck with it in the face of an awesome performance) and only lost to Waterford by a point.

I would have given him more time - who's going to do so much better?

EDIT: Just heard the interview - if the players weren't behind him, very tough call to keep him in.

premierstone

Het-Field wrote: »

Wexford hurling deteriorated rapidly in 2008. They were damn lucky to beat Dublin this year, and after that they bumbled through to a final debacle against Kilkenny they were hit by Antrim.

They needed something new and fresh.

Think your been far too simplistic here, firstly Dublin are capable of beating most teams on their day they also ran Cork very close remember, and if every team that were thrashed by KK sacked their manager there would be more than Wexford looking for a new manager.

Wexford have a quite small pool of players in comparison to KK, Cork, Tipp etc. and I thought they were making good progress in the last two years and remember they were a point away from beating Waterford who went on to the AI and Waterford were duly thrashed by KK, but Waterford are all but begging their manager to stay and Wexford have sacked theirs

cruiserweight

Well whoever gets the job now has 2 huge games against Offaly, one to win promotion and one to make a Leinster semi final

cruiserweight

Damien Fitzhenry has come out in defence of John Meyler. He is the only guy on the panel with an all ireland winners medal and one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, he knows a thing or two about winning and he was behind the manager. I wonder who the players were that contacted the county chairman. If they had a problem surely they should go to the man himself or let it be known who they are.

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=102150

Wexford’s long-serving goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry has slammed John Meyler’s sacking as manager.

Meyler was shocked to be told by county board chairman Ger Doyle on Tuesday that there had been a player coup against him and that his position had become untenable as a result.

But Fitzhenry insisted he was unaware of any player revolt and claimed he had "100 per cent faith" in Meyler and his management team of Willie Sunderland and Nickey Byrne.

The 1996 All-Ireland winner’s comments would suggest there has been a split in the Wexford camp, and that the county board will have a major task on their hands to find a successor to reunite them.

"I knew nothing of this until John rang me on Tuesday afternoon to tell me that he and his backroom team had been sacked," an upset Fitzhenry said.

"I was shocked and totally taken aback. I knew nothing of this.

"I was at the (initial) players’ meeting in Gorey with the management team after the Waterford game," he explained.

"We had 10 or 12 points which we put to management, such as a physical trainer and a specialist in Dublin to treat injuries. The team management went away and were dealing with the points put forward. On the night, the squad was totally behind John, the selectors and back-up team."

yahoo_moe

cruiserweight wrote: »

I wonder who the players were that contacted the county chairman.

It's an odd one alright - Meyler mentioned "3 or 4" in his RTE interview so it was hardly the kind of 'player power' display that disposed of Justin McCarthy in Waterford (largely unanimous). Must have been a certain amount of support already in County Board circles.

bruschi

yahoo_moe wrote: »

It's an odd one alright - Meyler mentioned "3 or 4" in his RTE interview so it was hardly the kind of 'player power' display that disposed of Justin McCarthy in Waterford (largely unanimous). Must have been a certain amount of support already in County Board circles.

what was originally said was 4 players off the hurling and football teams met to discuss last years season. Never said 4 hurlers, and I think this is where the start of all the confusion lies. Unless the chairman comes out and makes a propoer statement, the media shouldnt be reporting it as a player coup or such like, coz to me, it doesnt seem like it was that at all.

silliegillie

I heard along time ago of 2 players who Taught that Meyler was an idiot. Wont mention any names but it came from a good source. I was shocked when I was told this.
I then started to question my own loyalty to Meyler, But to be fair I don't think he did a bad job, and if it is because of a few players he left i think thats a disgrace. In a big hurling Squad there are always going to be people who dont get along thats life. Unless its overwhelmingly obvious I dont think a few players should dictate the career of the management team. I would say get rid of the players not the manager.

And on to who will replace him.

Martin Storey Managed the wexford U16 team that won the all Ireland this year, and who did they Beat, yep KK. Not sure if this is reason enough to give him a shot, But Im sure it is inevitable that at some stage in the future he will be the wexford manager.

bruschi

fitzhenrys comments yesterday seem to indicate it wasnt a majority of the panel who wanted hm out anyway

Agus

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=102401


Wexford to discuss Meyler sacking

14 October 2008


The Wexford county board will meet tonight to discuss the controversial sacking of John Meyler and his hurling management team.

Many Wexford supporters have expressed disgust at the treatment of Meyler, and it’s believed board members have called on the four players who sought his dismissal to attend the meeting and explain their actions.



One member said: "We need an open, frank discussion, and no hiding behind anonymity. It’s a slap in the face for democracy. It’s also a slap in the face for the county board who made the appointments initially."

Agus

Meyler fall-out continues in Wexford


John Meyler (l) with Damien Fitzhenry (r)


Wednesday, 15 October 2008 18:07
Wexford's search for their new hurling manager has got under way but not without a huge fall-out in the wake of the sacking of John Meyler.
Tuesday night's meeting of the county board was utter chaos as club delegates vented their anger with county chairman Ger Doyle, at the manner of John Meyler's dismissal and the fact that 'player power' is now prevelant in decision making.
County chairman Ger Doyle outlined the meeting that took place with the four-player delegation, comprised of 'Doc' O'Connor, Diarmuid Lyng, Eoin Quigley and Rory Jacob, leading to his meeting with John Meyler in Dungarvan and the manager's subsequent sacking.

But many delegates did not accept the manner in which Meyler and his backroom were treated.
Ballyhogue delegate Michael Foley who along with his committee, was sacked by Doyle earlier this year, after 13 years as fixtures chairman, took the county chairman to task at his failure to follow proper procedure.
He stated: 'The Chairman should have called a meeting of the county management, while in turn then bring it before a full county board meeting to discuss the matter in its entirety.
'This you (county Chairman) failed to do. You were totally out of order.
'It's not the first time. You did the same thing last year with Paul Bealin (sacked as football manager). You did not follow procedure on that occasion either and there were ructions at the following county board meeting.
'Yet you went on and did the same this year. You were totally out of order.'
When the county chairman informed the meeting that only one player was not present at the player meeting, former great Tony Doran felt that was not true.
Doran commented: 'I was told by a player he was not at the meeting. He did not know it was even on.'
Other delegates also felt that more players were not present at the player meeting.
Later the whole episode took another turn when Tony Dempsey, a former hurling manager, on behalf of the County Management Committee, proposed that thee outsiders, people from outside the county board, form the interview committee seeking a new manager along with the county chairman and county secretary.
Many delegates were clearly annoyed feeling it was another snub for the county board.
Delegates subsequently voted that the county chairman, county secretary (non-voting), along with club board delegates, Toss Ryan (St Anne's) and Philip Howlin (Duffry Rovers) form the interview committee.

This committee is also entitled to add one outside member.
But the growing discontent in the county is going to make it all the more difficult to secure a Manager.
Tony Dempsey, who ruled himself out of the interview committee, is already tipped as a possible replacement for Meyler, with two stars of 1996, Liam Dunne and Tom Dempsey as selectors.
Another name that has been mentioned is Mount Sion clubman, Kevin Ryan, who manages Ger Doyle's Oulart-the-Ballagh senior
side.
Both Liam Griffin and Martin Storey have ruled themselves out of therace.
Now the quartet of players who met with board officers have angrily refuted claims of the county chairman that they wished to remain anonymous, stating that nothing could be further from the truth.
Spokesman for the quartet, 'Doc' O'Connor has stressed that there was never a question of the players wishing to remain anonymous.
The St Anne's clubman said: 'We're disappointed that the perception has been put out there'

ccosgrave

Ryan tipped for Wexford post

19 October 2008

Former Waterford selector Kevin Ryan has become a strong candidate to succeed John Meyler as Wexford’s next senior hurling manager.

According to today’s Sunday Independent newspaper, the Mount Sion club man is in line to takeover at the Model County after the Wexford hurling board yesterday confirmed a selection committee to find a new manager.

County Board chairman Ger Doyle was heavily criticised by board delegates this week over the handling of the county’s former hurling manager John Meyler.

It is understood that Doyle had been told by delegates at last Tuesday night’s board meeting that his actions were "totally out of order" and "contradicted proper procedure".

On the night, he was also criticised for handling the sacking of Paul Bealin as the Model County’s football manager in similar circumstances.

cruiserweight

Any update on this? Last I heard Ryan had publically declared that he was interested. Maybe someone like Dinny Cahill could be a possibility?

Agus

Dunne backs Ryan to take over Wexford

30 October 2008

Liam Dunne has backed his club boss Kevin Ryan to succeed John Meyler and take the reins as Wexford’s next hurling manager.

Dunne, who plays for Oulart-The-Ballagh, was linked with the Wexford job soon after it had became available earlier this month but has ruled himself out of the running and has instead pointed to Ryan to take over the Model County.

"I don’t have any interest in it right now," said Dunne. "I’m still playing, even if I can see the sun rising over the hill now.

"Kevin Ryan came out and said that he’d be interested in it. I told him afterwards that he was dead right to say it, because everyone else is saying he should get it."

A seven-man committee has been put together to find Meyler’s successor, and the likes of Dinny Cahill, Nicky English and Pat Herbert have all been names mentioned, but Ryan has been the only person to have made his candidacy public.

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=103008

cruiserweight

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=103101

Former Tipperary back Colm Bonnar has emerged as a possible successor to John Meyler as Wexford senior hurling manager.

So far, Waterford native Kevin Ryan is the only one to have declared publicly any interest in the vacant post, but Bonnar is an interesting option. He is a former member of Justin McCarthy’s backroom team in Waterford and has also shown his mettle as a coach with WIT.

Though the County Board is in no immediate panic to make an appointment, there doesn’t appear to be a glut of candidates on the horizon.

cruiserweight

Ryan didn't manage to lead Oulart to county success this year, I wonder if it will affect his chances

yahoo_moe

cruiserweight wrote: »

Ryan didn't manage to lead Oulart to county success this year, I wonder if it will affect his chances

Possibly - though I'd imagine that the close season actions of several leading players and the fact that the chairman's overbearing actions have become very public would mean that the County Board may not be able to be THAT choosy...

monkey99

the amount of people from other counties that have been to me like 'shur why dont ya's get dat famous martin storey fella ta do it!?' its like damn that fkn song anyway!!

id actually cry if he became manager, but then i would be biased bein from rathnure!

cruiserweight

Another possibility, anybody know anything about Jerry Wallis?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/mccarthy-prepares-response-to-players-1526839.html

GERALD MCCARTHY is preparing to again take the fight to the Cork hurling squad and respond to the marathon statement issued by the players yesterday.

After two rounds of consultation with each other and their advisers, the players finally hit back at assertions and issues raised by McCarthy in a statement and interviews and by the board in a statement last week.

It comprised almost 1,800 words and reiterated the players’ disapproval of the process used to ratify McCarthy.

McCarthy says he will digest the statement in detail, focusing particularly on the issues raised about him directly, before considering a response.

“I will study the article and what is written in it about me and if I feel a need to reply to certain points I most certainly will, but it will be in the next day or so,” he said yesterday.

Cork County Board will also consider a response over the next few days as all parties prepare for what looks set to be another long drawn-out process. County PRO Bob Ryan said it was not their wish to engage in public tit-for-tat battles with the players.

There was no significance being placed last night on the absence of a direct admission by the players in the statement that they would not play for McCarthy in 2009 if he remained on as manager.

McCarthy is continuing with the business of picking selectors and finding a replacement trainer after the departure of Jerry Wallis, who commanded a lot of respect from the players. Wallis has been linked with the vacant Wexford manager’s job and is expected to be interviewed over the weekend.

cruiserweight

New manager has been appointed and it is Colm Bonnar. Any of the Tipp or Waterford guys have anything to say about him?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2008/1111/wexford.html

Former Tipperary star Colm Bonnar has been appointed as the new manager of the Wexford hurling team.

Bonnar, a winner of two All-Ireland medals as a player with Tipperary takes over from John Meyler, who was axed after the end of the recent Championship campaign.

Meyler was expected to be handed a third term in charge of Wexford and was believed to have the full support of the players

cruiserweight

Liking this appointment more and more

http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/wexford-make-bonnar-an-offer-he-just-couldnt-refuse-1537099.html

WHEN Wexford called, Colm Bonnar knew he had to answer. What's more, he had to say 'yes'.

"It's a big challenge but it's also a big chance. I have plenty of experience as part of management teams so I'm now looking forward to putting my own stamp on things in Wexford," said the former Tipperary double-All-Ireland medal-winner.

Bonnar takes over from John Meyler, whose departure last month left many people in Wexford with an uneasy feeling. In the circumstances, they will be pleased to see that the county board has made a well-thought out decision by appointing a man with the widest possible breadth of experience at all levels. Having been a central figure in three senior county managements this decade, he felt the time was right to move up to the No 1 position.

He worked with Gerald McCarthy in Waterford in 2000/2001 and remained part of the set-up when Justin McCarthy replaced his Cork colleague for a 2002 season which ended with a first Munster senior title success since 1963.

Bonnar remained with Waterford until the end of 2003 after which he accepted an invitation from former team-mate Ken Hogan to join the new Tipperary management. He served with Hogan in 2004-2005 before taking a break from the inter-county scene while continuing his involvement with Waterford IT where he is Sport and Student Development Officer. He felt that the inter-county batteries needed recharging, a process which is now complete so he is already looking forward to what will be his biggest challenge since his playing days during which he won All-Ireland senior medals with Tipperary in 1989 and 1991.

Bonnar arrives in Wexford at a time of uncertainty in the county. Meyler's removal appeared unduly harsh, especially as his final game in charge ended in a one-point defeat against Waterford in the All-Ireland quarter-final. It suggested that, on their day, Wexford were a match for any opposition (except Kilkenny), yet the broader background wasn't as encouraging.

They were relegated to Division Two of the Allianz League last spring, a setback which leaves them -- and Bonnar -- in a disadvantaged position as they look ahead to 2009.

It's not something the new manager wishes to dwell on. He knows how the cards are stacked and regards his sole responsibility as playing them with maximum cleverness.

"Wexford are in Division Two and we have to deal with that. It's not where you want to be but there are some good teams in the group so it will be very competitive. Winning promotion is the first priority but it won't be easy," said Bonnar.

With only one exit slot, winning promotion will indeed be quite difficult in a group which also features Offaly, Antrim, Laois, Westmeath, Carlow, Down and Kerry.

The Leinster championship draw hasn't been especially kind to Wexford either, pitting them against an improving Offaly in the quarter-final. The arrival of Galway and Antrim will spice up the Leinster championship and while the Wexford hurling public weren't particularly keen on the idea, Bonnar thinks it's a progressive step.

"All the talk in recent years was about the Munster championship but with Galway and Antrim playing in Leinster next year, it will give it a new impetus. That has to be good for everybody," said Bonnar.

Like all other managers, he will have to wait until January to begin training the panel but says he has plenty to do in the meantime to get everything in place for the big lift-off.

His co-selectors will be appointed over the next two weeks after which he will meet the players to outline his plans for 2009.

Heavy defeats at the hands of Kilkenny have tended to present Wexford hurling in a depressing light in recent years but then they aren't the only side to struggle against Brian Cody's champions.

Kilkenny apart, Wexford have turned in some encouraging championship performances, beating Tipp in the 2007 All-Ireland quarter-final and running Waterford to a point this year.

Prepared

"There's very little between several counties. They can all beat each other on a given day. My aim with Wexford will be to have them prepared as well as they possibly can and to ensure that they go into games in the right frame of mind. After that anything is possible," he said.

His appointment looks like a smart move by Wexford as he is extremely well regarded as a coach. It was important for them to deliver a well-respected figure and they have achieved that with Bonnar, who has been given a two-year term with a review at the end of next season.

Daysha

I can't say I know too much about his strengths/weaknesses, but he was a very popular member of the backroom team for the few years he was with us. Certainly a good appointment by your point of view.

Bandage

My latest information is that ex Wexford defender Niall McDonald is likely to be part of Colm Bonnar's backroom team. They hurled together back in the day for WIT so that's the link. McDonald was a great player for us but didn't win anything and had retired prior to 1996. He's been refereeing at home for the past few years and is a good guy by all accounts.

I also heard there's a bit of opposition to Martin Storey getting involved and that's coming from within the committee who appointed Bonnar. Storey's the type who would have rubbed people up the wrong way at times as he speaks his mind. Typical GAA if some old, stubborn committee man takes a stand to prevent his appointment but hopefully it'll be pushed through.

Bandage

Yep, so we've finalised our hurling management team. They are:

Trainer:
Tom Mulally - Glenmore: Brother of Richie, was training Rathnure and the Carlow hurlers recently. Have heard decent reports about him.

Selectors:
Eamonn Scallan - Ferns: Sent off in the 1996 final. Has had some success managing Ferns. Took them up to senior last year and they were narrowly beaten by eventual winners St Martin's in the senior quarter final this year. Also, managed their U-21s to a county final win recently. Was expecting to see a more high profile 1996 man involved.

Conor Power - St Martin's: Involved in coaching and games development in WIT so knows Bonnar through that. Was on and off the Martin's senior team a good few years back but got fat and more or less gave up. No real pedigree it has to be said but must be close to Bonnar. Is also ginger, which is a concern.

John Barron - Glynn-Barntown: A former Wexford wing forward from 1981-84, he's been involved in managing many teams at club level, including the Glynn-Barntown seniors a while back. A good guy by all accounts.

cruiserweight

Bandage wrote: »

Selectors:
Eamonn Scallan - Ferns: Sent off in the 1996 final. Has had some success managing Ferns. Took them up to senior last year and they were narrowly beaten by eventual winners St Martin's in the senior quarter final this year. Also, managed their U-21s to a county final win recently. Was expecting to see a more high profile 1996 man involved.

Played for Liam Mellows when he was on the team in 1996 and later Ferns. A good choice for a few reasons. Firstly he should have a good knowledge of the Intermediate scene which could be invaluable to the new manager for unearthing one or two new players. Second as a member of the team in 1996 and 1997 he knows what it takes to win. Thirdly as a player and manager was never affiliated with any of the big teams, so there can be no accusation of bias for or against players.

Other members of the team in 1996 are involved in the underage scene, may as well keep them in place to help develop young players and build for the future.