The Patrickswell man has indicated that he wishes to remain as Limerick senior hurling manager, but he must now go back through the process which appointed him in the first place.
The two-year reign of the 1973 hero ended with the qualifier loss to Offaly and this Tuesday night's August monthly meeting of the County Board discussed the now vacant position and decided to seek nominations from the 69 clubs of the county.
From the outset Limerick GAA chairman Liam Lenihan said he wanted an "open debate".
In truth, the debate never raged and the expected bumper attendance never materialised - less than 80 club delegates were present at the monthly meeting in the Claughaun GAA clubhouse.
Opening the debate the chairman thanked the out-going managements and confirmed that Dave Moriarty and Anthony O'Riordan have indicated that they are not interested in continuing in their roles in the hurling set-up.
He stated that the closing date for receipt of nominees is August 26, when a special County Board meeting will take place in the South Court Hotel.
At that meeting all nominations will be revealed and handed over to a sub committee who will interview all candidates and recommend one proposal for ratification.
A proposal for the new manager could come before the September 9 County Board meeting, but the sub committee may need more time to interview and meet with the nominated individuals.

Compromise reached
The chairman proposed a sub committee comprising solely of County Board officers, but the club delegates were having none of it.
After much tooing and froing a compromise was reached.
The elected sub committee consists of Limerick GAA chairman, Liam Lenihan, secretary Mike O'Riordan, treasurer Owen Hayes and one club delegate from each division - Oliver Mann (Patrickswell), Louis Quirke (Ahane), Jim Dooley (Garryspillane) and Jimmy Stapleton (Granagh-Ballingarry).
It is understood that the new management will be put in place for an initial term of two years with an option for a third year.
The new hurling management will only comprise of a manager and two selectors.
Among those that did contribute to the unusually subdued debate was Ahane's Donal Morrissey.
Morrissey stated that his club had met to discuss the issue and made a number of relevant points.
One wonders, how many other clubs had a meaningful debate on the issue?
"The appointment of the manager is only part of the solution," said the Ahane man. He recalled a quote from Einstein about insanity: "The same people doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
One interesting point Morrissey raised was in relation to the lack of underage talent.
"The last four minor players that made the break through straight into the seniors all went to secondary college outside of Limerick - two to St. Flannan's and two to Fermoy."

Bone of contention
With the debate petered out and the committee selected the chairman raised what was to prove another 'bone of contention'.
"On August 26 the nominations will be read out and then the sub committee will start work. But they don't have to stick to the people nominated, if they feel there are people out there good enough," said Lenihan.
The club delegates weren't happy.
"Clubs will have no say. Nominees are a waste of time," said one voice from the floor.
Taking stock the chairman compromised: "The committee will meet beforehand and suss it out and if they think of someone they will get a club to nominate them."
The chairman stressed that the clubs of the county will have the final say: "The committee will look at every nominee. At the end of the day clubs will have the final say when the proposed individual comes before a meeting for ratification. Nobody from the County Board or on behalf of the County Board have approached anyone."

Football management
The situation regarding the future of Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's reign as football manager was briefly.
"The Football Board will consult with the clubs and propose someone to the county board officers and then we will bring that name before a full county board meeting for ratification," explained Lenihan.
Mickey Ned has indicated that it is his wish to remain at the helm.