The Limerick hurling manager stopped short of resigning following his team's loss to Clare at the weekend; but indications are strong that TJ Ryan will step aside sometime this week.
Clare seemed in control for the majority of the qualifer, and booked a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals with the four-point win.
In his post-match interview with Newstalk, Ryan sounded like a man who knew his time was up - but stopped short of actually resigning:
I’ve given everything as a player and as a manager to Limerick hurling. I’ve brought it as far as I could. It wasn’t to be, it wasn’t good enough.
Without making anything formal, I will probably do that during the week but I’ve taken it as far as I could.
I’ve given it absolutely everything, I genuinely have. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, I’m very grateful to the people who have allowed me the opportunity.
I’ll sleep on it but over the next day or two and make a formal decision.
But, as I said to you, what I have given three years time wise, it just wasn’t good enough.
Ryan's highlight as boss was the guiding Limerick to the semi-finals before losing to Kilkenny two years ago, a run that earned him a new three-year deal. Limerick failed to get any further than that in the next two season, and Ryan looks like he'll announce this week that he won't see out the final year of his contract.
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Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
