The current Deputy President of the IFA Tim O’Leary won’t contest the race for the position when IFA elections take place this spring.

He confirmed at a meeting of IFA Cork Central last night that he would not be seeking the nomination of the county to go forward.

Tim O’Leary was elected as IFA Deputy President in 2013. In November, he became acting President of the association following the resignation of Eddie Downey as a result of a pay scandal in the organisation which also saw the IFA’s General Secretary Pat Smith resign.

Following an IFA executive council early December last, O’Leary stepped down as acting leader of the association to allow Jer Bergin take over as Chairman.

However, in recent weeks, O’Leary failed to secure the backing required to see his name added to the list of candidates for the upcoming IFA Presidential election.

County Chairman Jimmy Hosford said Tim O’Leary sent apologies that he could not attend the meeting and did not seek the nomination last night at the meeting.

Hosford also confirmed that former Barryroe Chairman John O’Brien was nominated by the county to run for the rule of Munster Chairman.

O’Brien has served as Chairman of Barryroe Co-op for seven years, two years on the board of Carbery and also on the board of Ornua and is seeking the nomination at tonight’s Cork Central meeting.

He told Agriland that he has been approached by a number of people over the past few weeks about running and after consideration decided to put his name forward.

“I have extensive experience of corporate governance through my work with Barryroe, Carbery and the Irish Dairy Board (Ornua).”

O’Brien, who milks 200 cows in Barryroe, said he has been more involved in co-ops than IFA politics in recent years, but that there seems to be an appetite for change if IFA at the moment.