EXCLUSIVE O'Rourke outlines reasons for his departure

Outgoing Meath senior football manager Colm O'Rourke has exclusively told the Meath Chronicle that he had held discussions with two highly regarded coaches who were prepared to come on board his management team.

However, since those coaches were unwilling to commit publicly because of their continued involvement O'Rourke was not in a position to submit their names as part of a new management team to be ratified.

"After our championship finished we as a management team had decided that we needed some extra coaching expertise. As a result I have consulted with a large number of county team managers and coaches to get advice on who best to fill the gaps," O'Rourke told the Meath Chronicle in a statement this evening.

"In the last month I have had discussions with two coaches who were highly recommended, one from inside the county and one outside, who would be happy to get involved with Meath but who are unwilling to commit publicly until their duties with their present clubs are finished. I admire their loyalty and as county training does not resume until late November I was prepared to wait.

"However as I cannot fulfil the requirements as set out by the review committee, whose brief I considered was the manager only, I am withdrawing with regret from the process.

"I would like to thank my management team for their commitment, hard work and complete integrity and also the whole backroom team who were totally professional in their duties.

"I am also very grateful for the constant support of sponsors Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud who were always willing to give very generously to ensure that the team lacked for nothing.

"I would also like to wish the players well and it should be stressed that at no stage of this process did they ever make any demands. This is a young team with considerable potential and I wish them and the new management the very best of luck in their endeavours," concluded O'Rourke.