Decisive steps are needed to retain services of Davy

IT’S QUITE clear at this stage that Wexford need a Plan B if they are to retain Davy Fitzgerald’s services for another year. Wexford waited a long time to return as a hurling force. It was under the guidance of Fitzgerald and his backroom team that the county won promotion back to Division 1A and qualified for the National League semi-final, while also appearing in a Leinster final that attracted a huge attendance to Croke Park.

Wexford also enjoyed league and championship victories over Kilkenny, while they also defeated All-Ireland favourites Galway in the league, a first-ever victory in Salthill.

So the Clareman has more than achieved the targets set out for him. These were targets outlined over a three-year plan but all achieved within a six-month timeframe.

Now that Plan A has ben achieved it can be put to bed as the important work should be under way with a Plan B to keep Fitzgerald at the helm for another year.

It’s no coincidence that Fitzgerald is still to make a move as to his future role in management, if any. He has cited various reasons why he is taking time out before arriving at a firm decision on his future, including travel and personal matters to deal with, all of which will influence his final decision as to his future.

He has said that should he manage next year it would be with Wexford, as he has ruled himself out of the Dublin job, where Cuala manager Mattie Kenny is the front runner.

Davy Fitzgerald started his year in the depths of winter, training on cold winter nights, making the long journey from Sixmilebridge. It’s not the typical role a manager would choose, but once he took on the task, he set about changing the whole hurling scene in the county, which he achieved both on an off the pitch, with thousands flocking to games even in the pre-season Walsh Cup outings.

It was in 2008 that Davy Fitzgerald was tempted out of RTE punditry to take on the Waterford manager’s role, steering them to an All-Ireland final through the back door.

Having guided Clare to All-Ireland and National League titles, he made his way towards Wexford and rallied the troops, but now the time has arrived for the Wexford G.A.A. management committee to rally around the former Clare manager, ensuring that he remains at the helm of Model county hurling for at least another year.

Davy Fitzgerald is his own man. He has pushed the county on so it was always likely, given his success rate, that he would always be linked with other counties.

Davy will have an impacct wherever he goes but now a load of factors have to be dealt with before Wexford can say they have retained his services at the helm for another year.

His great strength is developing a team. He knows quite well his job is far from complete.

He knows also that he needs more strength in depth, so that is all the more reason that his future should be decided to facilitate his attendance at the club championship games.

That should all factor into the urgency of the Wexford G.A.A. management in sitting down with Fitzgerald and arriving at a plan for the future. Wexford G.A.A. management are well aware of what’s needed to keep Fitzgerald on board.

He’s still the Wexford boss but the longer this whole affair drags on, the more difficult it can become to retain his services.

Wexford G.A.A. cannot fall short on this, particularly as Fitzgerald is carrying with him the support of the county since he’s the manager who has delivered for Wexford hurling and has everyone looking forward to the top sides visiting Innovate Wexford Park next spring for the National League.

If Wexford G.A.A. fail to deliver they will have serious questions to answer.

They will ned to have more in the locker than just words as this is a crucial decision as to the future of Wexford hurling.

Whatever it takes to retain Fitzgerald has to be delivered.

Now it’s time for Wexford G.A.A. to come off the bench, as this is a dilemma they have been mulling over, but there is only one answer acceptable to Model county supporters, the re-appointment of Fitzgerald.

Whatever it takes has to be delivered by Wexford G.A.A. management.

The dragging of heels won’t be acceptable for much longer.