Donegal Academy staff resign en-masse

Donegal Academy coaches, performance support and logistics support have announced their decision to step down from their roles, saying that they have "lost all confidence in governance of Donegal GAA".

The move comes less than a week after the Head of Academy Development, All-Ireland winner Karl Lacey, stepped away from his role, citing a lack of support from the County Board.

The county's Under-20 and Under-17 management teams will remain in place because their teams are midway through this season's competitions.

In a letter sent to the Donegal board and released to Donegal News, the academy staff echoed Lacey's disappointment in the support they recieved and reiterated their full support for the former academy chief.

The letter read: "We regret to inform you that the coaches, performance support and logistics support involved in the Donegal Academy are stepping down from their duties with immediate effect.

"Our under 20 and under 17 coaches and management teams will remain in place as they are in season, and the integrity of our competitions must be preserved.

"We would all like express our full support for the Head of Academy Development and are extremely disappointed in how he was treated in his role. However our deepest regret lies with the approx. 350 young Donegal players which are currently at standstill, who we coached and bonded with over the past 18 months and indeed their parents/guardians who were equally as committed.

"However, the coaches, performance support and logistics support feel that the development vision and pathway for Donegal is not aligned with or supported by the leadership within the county. As a group, we have lost all confidence in governance of Donegal GAA."