Derek McGrath has said that one of his major regrets from his time as Waterford hurling manager is not meeting in person a number of players to tell them they were being released from his panel.
In the autumn of 2014 - his first season in charge of the Deise over - McGrath jettisoned several players from the group.
"That was difficult," McGrath told RTÉ Radio One's Today With Sean O'Rourke.
"We had a parent-teacher meeting at school and I phoned those eight or nine lads. I look back on that decision with real regret that I didn't meet those players face-to-face.
"Some players who had given great service to the county - Jamie Nagle, Liam Lawlor, Ray Barry, Richie Foley - I gave them 45 seconds on the phone.
"I often look back with regret on that particular decision.
"That sense of change, you had to do it. In year one, I was almost led and said by others. I became a bit of a control freak as the whole thing went on.
"I was a poor delegator, particularly in the last year in the job, almost overburdening myself with aspects of preparation that I shouldn't be."
The 42-year-old - a teacher at De La Salle College - also gave some insight into the dedication he gave to the job during his five years.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that you're probably looking at 60 hours a week. That sounds over the top but it depends on the character as well.
I probably took the most publicised parental leave in the history to do the job. Most people would see teaching as an ideal scenario for doing an inter-county job but I just found that I was not 100 per cent in the classroom. So, I took some parental leave to concentrate on the job over the past two years.
In a county like Waterford where there's an absolutely longing to make a breakthrough, I think you have to immerse yourself completely in it. The part-time nature of it, I found it difficult to switch away from it. Some people will deal with that in a completely different manner - when they go home, they're able to switch away and go back to a normal family life. I just found it a bit more difficult.
Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
