Eamonn Fitzmaurice has stepped down as Kerry manager after failing to make the All-Ireland semi-finals.
The Kingdom beat Kildare by 2-25 to 2-16 but it wasn't enough to progress as Monaghan overcame Galway in Salthill by 0-16 to 0-8.
Asked by Off the Ball's Dave McIntyre after the game if he had stepped down, he said: "I have. I stepped down. I've been six years in the job which is a long time and I think that the lads will do - it'll freshen the thing up.
"There's lots of young talent - there's good foundations there. I think you always try to improve the team and pass it on to the next person in a better place so, we're in a very good place in Kerry.
"The future is bright and I think by me stepping away from it - a new person coming in, they'll be given a bit of space that we weren't given this year.
"I think in particular in our own county after the Galway game - there was a lot of negativity around the team and that's ok for me but it's not great for a young team, when you're trying to develop a young team.
Listen: The moment Eamonn Fitzmaurice told @DaveMcIntyreOTB on Sky Sports that he had stepped down as Kerry boss.@BoyleSports pic.twitter.com/k5UNjGHuAz
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) August 4, 2018
"So, I think by removing myself from the situation, even though I still had two years to go - it should free up the public opinion and give the lads a bit of space and time to develop which they need.
"A lot of those young lads have made absolute massive strides this summer and they'll be all the better for it but it takes time before you're ready and before you can win big," he added.
