Former Antrim hurling manager Terence "Sambo" McNaughton has refused to be drawn on the prospect of a return to the hot-seat of the troubled county.
Antrim, who competed in Division 2A of this year's league, are without a manager just weeks out from their Christy Ring Cup round one game against Kildare following PJ O'Mullan's surprise departure.
O’Mullan’s exit came after Antrim closed out their 2A campaign with dispiriting defeats to Westmeath, Carlow and London to finish fourth following relegation last year.
Critical comments
Prior to O’Mullan’s exit, the former AIB All-Ireland club winning manager had lost talented forward
Liam Watson
who quit the panel in disillusion, making critical comments about the county board and their approach to player welfare as he left.
Antrim have a considerable task now to raise shattered morale in time for their tier two championship opener with Kildare on April 23rd.
Reports that McNaughton, a legendary figure in the county who previously jointly managed Antrim in the late 2000s, could fill the void have come as a timely boost.
But speaking yesterday from his holiday base in Portugal, the Cushendall man declined to clarify the situation.
“I’ve not met anyone about it,” said McNaughton. “There’s nothing yet and the county board are really the people to be talking too. I can’t say any more than that.”
Antrim officials were unavailable for comment when contacted though, in a separate statement, they did deny a number of claims made by Watson.
The 33-year-old only returned to the panel this year following O’Mullan’s takeover but may now have played his final game for Antrim and was critical of the county board in a recent interview.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Watson claimed that the players 'were asked to take pay cuts' in relation to expenses.
“What’s the point in going for six nights a week if you know you are having to take a pay cut?” said Watson. “That’s where the whole fun things comes into it. You just ask, ‘what’s the point?’”
However, Antrim GAA rejected the claims, insisting they were ‘completely false’.
“It is regrettable that an attempt has been made to deflect from where our focus needs to be but we are committed to working with the players to ensure Antrim hurling makes strong strides forward throughout the rest of the 2016 season,” read the statement.
