THE return of Ross Carr to the Down county panel remains unlikely but not impossible, according to the player himself.
County officials’ strenuous efforts to convince him to join the Mournemen’s championship challenge appeared to have failed - but the door is not completely closed.
The Clonduff clubman said last night: “I’ll not be involved this year, I never intended to be – unless there’s a change in developments this week between myself and Pete [McGrath].”
There is no suggestion of any disagreement between the player and county manager, Carr wryly explaining: “Pete has wonderful ways of persuading you to do things you thought you did not want to do! Maybe I’ll stay away from the ‘phone, or pull it from the wall!”
Carr has recently become a father again but acknowledged that “it would be no big surprise if I do go back – you can always put work and family commitments to one side, as I have done in the past.”
Now aged 35, Carr stated: “From a realistic point of view taking back Ross Carr is not a step in the right direction. But if Pete feels I can be of help I would find it hard to refuse.
“Yet if it goes on too much longer it’ll not happen, I’ve missed too much county training. The way I’m playing at the minute I could probably do a job for Down for 20 minutes or half an hour.”
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ANTRIM'S championship visit to Parc an Iuir looming on June 20 is one factor to consider, but Carr also criticised the modern coaching tendency for super-stamina:
“Nowadays it’s so much about fitness not talent, there are a lot of ‘greyhounds’ playing football. The likes of Mickey Linden, Joe Brolly, and Peter Canavan are not being marked by better footballers but by fellas who would follow them into the stand if they went there!”
MANCHESTER United are preparing measures to protect Republic of Ireland internationals Roy Keane and Denis Irwin after threats from Combat 18.
The fascist group have made letter and phone threats to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) against Republic stars playing in England.
Keane and Irwin are the most high-profile of the players targeted by Combat 18 and United are waiting for the police’s full assessment of the risk.
United assistant secretary Ken Ramsden said: “We have been made aware of the threats and we will be acting on whatever advice the police give us, which will be based on the police’s judgement of the threats.”
The threats were received at the Dublin city centre headquarters of the FAI, saying the players should “go home to the Irish bogs”.
Middlesbrough midfielder Andy Townsend and striker Tony Cascarino – who plays in France – were also mentioned, even though both are originally from Kent.
