Former Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has spoken out about his disgust regarding hate mail sent to him and a number of his players.
Fitzmaurice resigned last Saturday after his Kerry side failed to progress from the Super 8s despite seeing off Kildare in their final outing in this season's Championship.
The Kerry man says he made the decision last season to step down from the position, regardless of how the county's season played out.
He stressed that his resignation will give Kerry chairman Tim Murphy an extended period of time to stamp his authority around what kind of manger he wants as a successor.
"I hoped I was going be giving Tim that news on a Thursday or Friday after winning an All-Ireland. It would have been a different conversation but I feel for Tim, the county board and even the county that it's a good move. It removes someone that's been there a good while. It will give Tim the opportunity to put his own person in there, as well."
The manager went on to add that threatening letters have been sent to him over a period of years, dating back to 2013. Fitzmaurice says he doesn't pay attention to them.
"I think the letters thing has taken on a life of it's own. It's important to clarify where the comment came from,' said Fitzmaurice
"Since I've taken over, I gotten a collection of letters. It's nothing new for me, going right back to 2013. I've never mentioned it to anyone; I've certainly haven't mentioned it in public, before. It's not something I take any notice of, really.
He says management became extremely concerned when threatning letters were received by a number of the players. The Lixnaw man says that's when things had gone too far.
"Something that changed this Summer was the players, and a player in particular, got a letter. It was more that what was in the letter, that annoyed me. I felt it had gone too far. A player was told in a letter to jump off a cliff, and take two or three other players with him, those players were named in the letter - I felt that was going way too far"
"When its coming at the manager, and the selectors - and we got a few this Summer. It's no harm for them either to get a touch of it. When it goes to a player; it's gone too far. The lads are amateurs."
You can watch the full interview on this morning's OTB AM.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
