Derek Deane has ceased his attempts to join the IFA presidential race following almost a month of protracted wranglings over whether or not he had the right to run.
In a statement issued through IFA this afternoon, the Carlow County Chairman said he wished to ‘withdraw‘ from the race for President of IFA at this time.
“I believe that there are issues that I have raised with the Chairman of the Rules Committee that should be reviewed before the next election,” he said.
Deanes decision comes as members of Carlow IFA are calling for him to resign.
Deane, a former Deputy President of the IFA, came to prominence in November after he went public over pay levels at the top of the association particularly the remuneration of the then General Secretary, Pat Smith.
However, he failed in a bid to secure the backing to run for IFA President in recent weeks, following the resignation of Eddie Downey.
At a Carlow IFA meeting on Monday night, a motion of no confidence was put forward and seconded in Deane, according to a number of people at the meeting.
However, they say the motion was not voted on at the meeting because of the IFA 21-day rule regarding motions, which means any meeting must have 21-day notice of motions.
One person, who attended the meeting said there is frustration on a large scale in Carlow and the members are unhappy with the current Chairman (Derek Deane).
Deane’s attempt to get into the Presidential race is not valid, he said.
“No rules were broken. We (Carlow) gave him the nomination even though some in the county did not feel he was the man for the job.
“But he did not get the signatures he needed.”
Deane chaired the Carlow meeting on Monday night and was contacted by Agriland for a comment, but did not respond.
He will remain on as Chairman until Carlow holds its AGM, where his tenure as Chairman will end. However, a date for that has yet to be set by Deane.