Big news from the west this evening. Galway senior hurling manager Anthony Cunningham has stepped down from his position with the squad this evening. The news was announced in a statement made ahead of a county board meeting due to be held this evening. The announcement follows reports that 26 of the current panel voted ‘no’ at a players’ meeting on Sunday night where the question was put to the panel if they have confidence in the current management. After the decision was made, Cunningham spoke to RTÉ.

VIDEO: Anthony Cunningham speaks to @rtenews after resigning as manager of Galway. @martym_rte https://t.co/g3kHgl52bO

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) November 16, 2015

He also released a statement about the decision, which has caused some controversy online as he stated that he believed the players “are misguided”. “Despite the fact that I was unanimously ratified and supported by the Galway GAA clubs, the County Hurling and Galway County Committees and having reviewed the current impasse in detail over the past month, it is with great sadness tonight that I and my management team announce our resignations form our positions,” the statement read. “I do so with the best interests of Galway hurling in mind and with the priority of best assisting Galway hurling to build on the achievement of 2015. “As a management team, we have exhausted all avenues with support from the clubs, their delegates, the hurling fraternity and County Committees in the past month to bring this impasse to a conclusion and protect Galway hurling. “Despite extensive attempts at genuine dialogue including Independent Arbitration, there were no reasonable explanations offered or given as to the issues the players felt they had. “I believe that the players are misguided in that they are not taking the view of their county on board. They, through their actions, have shown scant respect for, and loyalty, to the goodwill shown to them by supporters, clubs and the county GAA committees and management. “I contend that it is unreasonable to express a lack of confidence in management – how else could we have reached a winning position in an All-Ireland final last September?"