Clare's Podge Collins was on Monday’s OTB AM and backed Davy Fitzgerald to stay at the Wexford helm for another year.
Fitzgerald expressed doubt over his future with the Wexford hurlers after his side’s gutting loss to Tipperary in Sunday’s semi-final. However, Collins believes his former manager will stay on.
“Judging by the feel of the players and this year, I think they’ve obviously a great relationship. I’d see him going back and giving it another crack.
“Listen, it was a good year for them and they progressed definitely. They’ll be looking to probably build on that next year. I think that holding on to Davy will be massive because he brings his own structure and his own type of play. A new manager would nearly completely start again,” Collins explained.
Fitzgerald has come under criticism for the sweeper system he uses with Wexford with critics claiming that the Slaneysiders play a defensive style of hurling.
“A sweeper hasn’t won an All-Ireland. But Wexford will be absolutely delighted with Davy and winning Leinster. Until the day the sweeper system wins the All-Ireland people are going to be against it.
“He’s had a lot of success and a lot of people talking probably haven’t had the same success. So I like to listen to the likes of Brian Cody and these people talking who’ve had massive success and you’d rarely see them making snide remarks or smart comments,” Collins commented.
The 2013 All-Ireland winner saw no reason for Wexford to move away from their current system. While it didn’t get them past Tipperary it has brought them plenty of success this season.
“It actually gives them an advantage against most teams because they’re so used to playing with the sweeper now. A team coming against them, whether they’re better hurlers or not, aren’t used to playing with a sweeper.
“Wexford have been practicing with this for the last three years. So they have a distinct advantage and that helps them big time,” Collins explained.
Davy Fitzgerald hasn’t come to a decision on his future as of yet but it’s safe to say that many in the sunny south-east will be hoping he stays on for another year.
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