The incoming Derry manager Damien Barton, centre-half forward on the '93 team, has adopted a surprisingly robust attitude in his opening press conference.
It's not quite a Brian Clough style 'you can throw all your medals in the bin' intro (Derry players haven't too many medals won with the county, for one thing) but it is tough stuff nonetheless.
In his opening press conference, he accused the Derry players of adopting a 'lazy attitude' in 2015.
I thought the players adopted a very lazy attitude last year.
I think that was very difficult for the management. They had a perception that they had overworked the year before and had peaked too early. I just cannot understand that.
They changed last year at the behest of the players and so it went, and stuttered. I think the players have to accept a lot of responsibility for that.
Derry is one of those counties which has a reputation for harbouring players who are more devoted to their club side than the county side.
The biggest challenge for me is getting players who want to play for this county. I think there has been great talent in the past who have just committed more to their club than to their county.
There are counties that put the county team first and the club team second. I think in this county that is going to be a challenge because there is a great deal of parochialism, in a positive way, but that can be construed as a negative as well.
Derry were accused of many things in 2015 - 'ruining the game' being among them.
After offending 'Gaels' everywhere (as Joe Brolly might put it) in their four point League defeat to Dublin in March, Derry doubled down on their defensive tactics in the championship.
They pipped Down in their championship opener in Celtic Park, before running Donegal close in the provincial semi-final. In the qualifiers, they handily disposed of Wexford.
However, the manner of their championship exit seemed to obliterate all positivity. After starting brightly, they went down to Galway by six points in dreadful conditions in Salthill.
McIvor resigned afterwards in a huff, blaming the referee. He may have had a point. Out of Galway's tally of 1-11, 0-9 came from frees. However, Derry's defensive style of play seemed to preclude them receiving much in the way of sympathy.
[Belfast Telegraph]
