THE SAGA over whether Mick O'Dwyer stays on as manager of Wicklow's county team or moves to another county continues. At a meeting of the County Committee on Monday night, Wicklow acceded to a request from the Kerry maestro that he be given another ten days in which to make a decision about his future. It had been expected in the press as well as throughout the county that Micko would be reappointed as manager of Wicklow's county team for a fifth consecutive year at Monday's meeting in Aughrim.

County Chairman Andy O'Brien informed club delegates on Monday that they had met with the Kerryman twice and had discussions with him on the issue.

Those talks had been ' extremely positive' and Mick O'Dwyer indicated he was again interested in the job of manager and they were happy with that.

But Micko said that he would be making changes to his selection committee.

Micko was disappointed with the defeat to Westmeath at Tullamore this year, felt they left the county down, and indicated he would be coming to the job with even greater passion in 2011.

The Chairman said that over the weekend, unfortunately, Mick O'Dwyer had contacted them again and asked to be given another ten days to make his decision and he would come back to them then.

Micko would be talking to people both inside and outside the county during that ten day period. Management agreed that Micko be given the ten days to consider what he wants to do and the managements view was unanimously endorsed by the delegates at the meeting.

Kilmacanogue's Des Fox proposed that Mick O'Dwyer be given the ten days he asked for. 'Micko may not have got everything right, but he is the best manager we have ever had and he got the best results with the team. Personally I was disappointed we did not gain promotion from division four of the league, but still Micko is the best man we have ever had.'

Seamus Kelly from Baltinglass seconded the proposal that Micko be given the time for reflection that he has asked for. Seamus Kelly said that Micko had lifted the county and given them an unbelievable profile.

Everyone present concurred with giving Micko time and space.

In the event of Micko's answer being in the negative at the end of the ten days, Chairman Andy O'Brien and his management were given the go ahead to start putting a team management in place without having to call another meeting.

For some time there has been a lot of speculation in the media about the ultimate destination of Mick O'Dwyer and his name has been linked with several counties where the manager's job became vacant.

O'Dwyer, the most high-profile and successful manager of county teams in the history of the GAA, was particularly linked with the vacant Mayo job and the Mayo Board will be meeting next Monday night to make its decision on who should succeed John O'Mahony.

Micko's name also cropped up in relation to the manager's position in Limerick, Galway, Donegal and his former stomping ground of Laois where he served before and took them to a Leinster title.

Mick O'Dwyer agreed to come to Wicklow four years ago and in that time he won the Tommy Murphy Cup trophy in 2007; guided Wicklow to their first championship win in Croke Park in 2008; and their most successful run ever in the All-Ireland qualifiers in 2009 when they reached the last 12.

- MARK KENNEDY Sports reporter