FINN Harps are on the look-out for a new Media Officer after Declan Kerr stepped down from his post today.
Kerr had been under heavy pressure to resign this week after he penned an article in which he praised Ollie Horgan and Paul Hegarty, and said they had ‘ignored the baffling negativity from a small element, some of whom actually call themselves club volunteers’.
That irked some Harps supporters and several volunteers had indicated that they were ready to vacate their roles within the club.
After taking a few days to weigh up the situation, Kerr decided to step down as he felt he wasn’t getting the required support, and in a statement, he said he had been receiving personal attacks on social media from three individuals over the past year.
Kerr said: “I am stepping down as Media Officer with Finn Harps FC in the light of negative comments from sources within the club in relation to my coverage of a recent away match.
“For some time it has been my view that I do not have the full support and positive reaction needed to report and comment in a manner that is in best interests of promoting Finn Harps in a proactive way. I have also been subjected to an ongoing social media campaign of personal attacks over the past year by three individuals.
“I wish to remind those who’ve posted these comments on social media sites about my professional and personal integrity that such remarks are subject to the same legal rigours for libel content, such as that pertaining to the print media, and are likely to be a matter for court proceedings.
“In that regard, I have been tracking these comments for consideration by my legal advisers with the objective of having those who’ve made them being held to account for their actions.
“I have been forced to consider my position over a number of months in the hope that the issues arising could have been resolved and it is with much regret that I am now taking this course of action to step down as Finn Harps Media Officer and from the Club’s Board. Despite this very difficult time for me personally, I have been fundraising over the past week to help Finn Harps through a challenging financial period and I will be presenting the proceeds to the Club in the coming days.
“I am proud to have served in the Media Officer role for the past three years. It was very rewarding also for me personally that my work was recognised by being nominated twice in three years for the Irish Soccer Writers Association Media Officer Award.
“I trust that my work has been of real benefit to Finn Harps in promoting the Club teams at both senior and underage level.
“Finally, I want to wish Finn Harps Football Club, their hundreds of volunteers and supporters all the best in the future. Hopefully the senior team can retain their place in the Premier Division for next season and the underage sides can achieve success in their respective competitions in the coming weeks.”
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