Sheridan avoids ‘politics’ of departure of Blues’ doctor
WATERFORD manager John Sheridan has refused to discuss the departure of club doctor Sinéad Fitzpatrick in the aftermath of the Covid-19 scare at the League of Ireland club.
Fitzpatrick resigned last week when the club temporarily suspended all activity – and a league match in Sligo was called off – after it emerged that two players had reported symptoms.
The duo subsequently tested negative, but Fitzpatrick had already stepped aside, stating in a social media post that it was the right thing to do if you “feel things are very wrong”.
Sheridan did not do press after Waterford’s draw with Cork City on Saturday and a club official tried to intervene when his assistant Fran Rockett faced questions on the matter on RTÉ.
The Blues boss wasn’t especially forthcoming on the subject in the aftermath of Tuesday’s FAI Cup defeat to Dundalk.
“I haven’t come to talk (about that), I just want to concentrate (on the team),” said Sheridan, when asked if Fitzpatrick had been replaced – before asserting that he had other reasons for his media no-show.
“I would have spoken on Saturday only the referee, it was a diabolical decision, the penalty (that wasn’t given v Cork), and actually the linesman who was there on Saturday, he said it was a penalty, he’s just told me tonight.
“So I was fuming. I probably would have got myself in trouble on Saturday if I spoke. That was the reason I didn’t speak, I don’t get involved in all the politics, I’m just concentrating on the team to try and win games, that’s all I’m doing.”
Sheridan said the two players involved are not around his first team group at the moment. One is injured, the other is with the U-19 side. The red flag was raised by their presence with the travelling party for the trip to face Shelbourne in Sheridan’s opening game in charge.
“They haven’t really been with the group,” said the former Irish international, before attempting to draw a line under the matter. “No one’s said anything to me. We just had to make sure we do things right, and hopefully everything’s gone the way we wanted it.”