"Having carefully considered what is in the best interest of Tipperary hurling and our current crop of players we believe the time is now right for a change of direction at Management level. It is our hope that a change in management will bring fresh new thinking to ensure Tipperary continues to compete for top honours in the coming years."
Those were the words of the Tipperary senior hurling management team as manager Michael Ryan and co step down from their roles with immediate effect.
As the hurling world digests the news, Nathan Murphy was joined by our Hurling Show presenter Shane Stapleton and Offaly legend Daithi Regan to react to Ryan and co's decision.
"Michael Ryan knows what's best for Michael Ryan. If you look at his career, he's been involved in three All Ireland wins: As a player in '01, as a selector in 2010 and as the manager of the team that won in 2016," said Daithi.
"So he did put a huge amount into it. I think it is interesting the actual content of the release where he's talking about a new direction.
"It may very well be the case that you must remember that in three All Ireland successes over the last 15 years that Michael Ryan has involved with Tipperary, Tipperary have played in a traditional Tipperary way which has been a direct type of hurling and that's the kind of granite he's cut from.
"That's what he understands and he understands what makes Tipperary tick. And he understands the demands that are within Tipperary.
"It very well may be the case that he's looking at what's been played now, he's looking at Clare and Limerick and it's possible Mike may feel that a new direction may mean Tipp may have to change their style of hurling and that's not necessarily his kind of forte to be able to change how they play.
"Because there have been suggestions this year with Tipperary that it was too one-dimensional. That it was just get the ball up the field and you rely then on, kind of, individuals and he had great forwards with great individual skill. But that certainly wasn't enough this year."
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