Players will support Gilroy's decision, says Brogan

The inevitable 'will he, won't he' question surrounding Pat Gilroy's future in the weeks that followed Dublin's All-Ireland final win could well be answered when he meets with his players on Friday night.

Gilroy's three-year term came to an end after the win over Kerry and his plans for the 2012 season remain uncertain, with speculation suggesting that he may decide to walk away at the very summit of the game.

However, when the squad and management sit down for their first formal meeting since the All-Ireland final on Friday, Gilroy will have the unstinting support of his players.

Although Alan Brogan says they will respect Gilroy's decision, he would love if the St Vincent's man opted to stay on for a fourth season in charge.

"There is no question that the players will want Pat to stay on but obviously he has some issues in his personal life that he needs to sort out," said Brogan, the Opel GAA GPA Player of the Month for June. "He has made that clear and he needs to be given the time and space to do that.

"A few of us have told him how we feel, but he knows that the players want him to stay on, but it's nearly a full-time job for him at this stage and he puts a lot of hours into it so he needs to be sure that he can commit to that again.

"In fairness he has given a great three years to us and either way, whatever decision he makes, I think the players will back him."

Brogan was in Croke Park on Tuesday to pick up the Opel GAA GPA Player of the month award for June and was also nominated for an All Star for his stand-out performances in Dublin's run to the All-Ireland title.

Such has been his form, he is many experts' choice to land the Player of the Year award when the end-of-season awards are handed out on October 31.

The 29-year-old attributes his fine form this year to steering clear of injury and improving his fitness levels.

"In the last couple of years I have been playing well," Brogan adds. "I have got fit and stayed away from injury, which has been important.

"The last couple of years I have been carrying knocks here and there so it was great to stay injury-free and that is due to the help of not only Pat but his backroom staff, his physios and guys in the gym. From that point of view it has been very professional."

Meanwhile, Brogan says there is a massive appetite among the players to build on this year's success when the squad reconvenes for training at the start of the 2012 season.

"There are a lot of young guys on the panel and they will be hungry for more success," he says. "They will be the ones to drive the older fellas on and that's what you need in a team. We have a good mix of youth and experience, which I think is good for any team.

"We'll enjoy the next couple of months and come back in January and refocus the minds again."

Photo: Winner of the GAA GPA Player of the Month sponsored by Opel for June Dublin's Alan Brogan, in attendance at the football nominee announcements for the 2011 GAA GPA All-Stars sponsored by Opel.