DEMANDS SPELL END OF TALKS IN DUBLIN

As far as I’m concerned the hurlers are there..

DUBLIN GAA chairman Sean Shanley says their policy of not paying county managers has led to candidates being turned away in the past.

Dublin are currently seeking a hurling boss to replace Ger Cunningham (above) and will begin talking to potential candidates next week.

Shanley (right) said he’s ‘confident’ a number of players who made themselves unavailable to Cunningham, including former All-star forward Danny Sutcliffe, will be back for 2018.

He revealed that the issue of getting Dublin’s best players playing for the team will ‘certainly influence us’ during the interview process.

Shanley said: “I’d have to say, the Dublin expenses aren’t as much as other counties.

“We’re running two big teams but we’re also not paying managers and the vast majority of Jim Gavin’s team and backroom team are volunteers and I believe you don’t get that in a lot of the other counties. We’re blessed that way in Dublin and have been, that the manager is doing it as a volunteer.”

Asked if not paying managers has narrowed the potential pool of candidates open to the county at times, Shanley nodded.

He said: “Well it does, if anyone comes in and puts a demand on it then that’s the end of the story. We wouldn’t be interested in that.” He admitted it has happened in the past that suitors have been knocked back for asking for payment.

Shanley said: “Oh it has happened in the past, yeah.”

Speaking at yesterday’s launch of the Applegreen Kilmacud Crokes All-ireland hurling 7s, Shanley said he believes there’s no need for a transition period under a new hurling boss.

He said: “We can’t afford to be putting it on the long finger with the hurling, the weeding out has been done, there’s a lot of new blood there.

“We’ve won a few Leinster titles in minor and U-21 lately so as far as I’m concerned the hurlers are there. It’s a matter of blending them right together and getting over the line.”

Mattie Kenny, the All-ireland club title winning Cuala boss, is fancied by many to land the job.