Offaly hand Rouse interim shot

OFFALY have not delayed in replacing Stephen Wallace as the manager of their senior football team. The Kerryman was relieved of his duties over the county after last weekend’s shock defeat by Wicklow. And yesterday the county board appointed an ‘interim management team’ to be led by Paul Rouse.

Wallace was sacked by the Faithful’s county board on Wednesday evening after just 133 days in the position.

On Thursday, former Kildare footballer Johnny Doyle took team training, but now a new group is in charge for next month’s qualifiers.

Wallace, who is under an eight-week suspension from all GAA activity following an incident in a club game, said that the players were committed to continuing under his management but the county board had made the decision to remove him regardless.

Rouse, 47, is a two-time Offaly County Championship winner with Tullamore and a history lecturer in UCD as well as a columnist with the Irish

SHORTLIVED:

Stephen Wallace Examiner. Stephen Darby, John Rouse and Alan McNamee will all join Rouse as his back-room staff for the duration of the Championship. A statement from the Offaly county board confirmed the appointment: ‘Following a recommendation from a Committee comprising Tommy Byrne (chairman Offaly County Board), Pauric Pierce (viceChairman Offaly County Board) and Vinny Claffey an Interim Management Team has been appointed to take charge of the Offaly Senior Football Team for the remainder of the 2018 Championship.’