The Kerry star was speaking after collecting the PwC Player of the Month award for July
David Clifford is hopeful Jack O’Connor will have a rethink and decide to stay on as Kerry manager.
Five-time All-Ireland winning manager O’Connor (64) indicated he was set to step down in the wake of this year’s All-Ireland final triumph over Donegal.
No official word has come out of Kerry yet, with county chiefs hopeful they can persuade the Dromid Pearses club man to remain at the Kingdom helm.
O’Connor has won two All-Ireland titles in four years in his third stint as Kerry manager.
Speaking as he collected the PwC Player of the Month award for July, after kicking nine points from play in the All-Ireland Final, Clifford said: “I haven’t actually really been talking to him (O’Connor) now much in the last few weeks.
“It’s just been kind of busy, but look we’d (the Kerry players) love for him to stay on.
“He’s the man for the job at the moment. So hopefully he might reverse his decision or he might stay on, hopefully.”
Clifford (26) continued: “Probably his biggest strength is he’s very honest.
“So you always know where you stand with him. Whether it’s a positive or a negative thing he’s going to be telling you how it is.
“That’s a big positive. And look, he’s just very wise. There aren’t many things that can happen throughout the year that he hasn’t experienced before.
“He seems to know when to panic or when to not panic, or when to keep it calm. So it’s just probably his wisdom is the thing.
“And look, he’s good fun around the place and he keeps it light hearted when it needs to be light hearted and it’s serious when it’s serious. That’s probably the big thing.”
Clifford, meanwhile, would consider a four point goal, but other than that he says it’s time to leave the rules alone.
It’s hardly surprising that a man who hit eight goals in this year’s Championship, two clear of Galway’s Matthew Tierney (6) and four ahead of Louth’s Sam Mulroy (4) fancies a four point major.
The sweeping changes introduced by Jim Gavin’s Football Review Committee have transformed the game, among them the two point arc, the three-up rule and resticting passes to the goalkeeper.
And they’ve certainly suited the attacking prowess of Kerry and their talismanic inside forward, Clifford.
“I think we might be better off leaving them (rules) alone with all the changes after last year,” said the 26 year old five-time All Star. “I’m happy with the way it is, to be honest.”
However, the four point goal is one that he would consider: “Potentially,” he continued.
“I suppose the reason they didn’t bring it in was because of a stronger county against a weaker county. It was the fear that if Dublin scored five goals against another team in Leinster or whatever, it’d look like an awful hammering.
“But possibly yeah, because I suppose at the moment, the difference between a two-pointer and a goal isn’t hectic.
“Still, I know it’s (a goal) only worth a point more than a two-pointer, but it’s just a bit different. It gives the crowd and it gives the team just a different lift.
“I’m not sure. I don’t know what they’re going to do, but whether it’s a three or a four-point goal, they’re (goals) still different (to points).”
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