Kerry football boss Paidi O Se is facing calls for his resignation amid fallout over comments he has made in recent media interviews.

On Tuesday, O Se apologised for his description of Kerry fans in a Sunday Independent interview last weekend as being "animals".

The comment was embellished by an expletive which has caused particular disquiet among a number of prominent Kerry GAA personalities.

In two previous interviews, O Se also used colourful language when discussing Kerry's All-Ireland final collapse against Armagh.

In his apology faxed from South Africa where he is with the Kerry squad on a team holiday, O Se said that the comment meant to convey that Kerry fans were "critical and demanding".

I think Paidi O Se is getting slightly carried away about his own importance Ger Power

O Se's Sunday Independent interview was also interpreted by some commentators as criticising his team trainer John O'Keeffe.

The Kerry manager indicated that he would be taking a more direct role in training in 2003.

In his apology, O Se insisted that he had "no question mark of any kind" about O'Keeffe's training techniques.

Some Kerry GAA folk felt O'Keeffe's tough training regime contributed to Maurice Fitzgerald's decision not to play intercounty football in 2002.

O Se's former Kerry team-mate Ger Power criticised the manager in an interview with Radio Kerry's Terrace Talk programme on Tuesday evening.

"I think Paidi O Se is getting slightly carried away about his own importance," said Power.

Because Armagh won, it was suddenly okay to lose it Ger Power

"Ogie Moran got a hard time after losing a Munster final and Mickey O'Sullivan was torn to shreds when Clare beat us in the Munster final in 1992.

"So Paidi would want to remember that we were beaten by Armagh and in my eyes Armagh were handed the All-Ireland.

"But because Armagh won, it was suddenly okay to lose it".

A poll taken by Radio Kerry on Wednesday revealed 65 per cent of callers to be in favour of O Se's resignation.

The Kerry county board distanced itself from O Se's weekend comments but officials have insisted that the manager's position is not under threat.

Meanwhile, new Monaghan manager Colm Coyle has left last year's captain Dermot McDermott out of the side for Sunday's McKenna Cup game against Derry.

The team shows seven changes in personnel from the side defeat by Louth in the All-Ireland qualifiers last summer.

Slaughtneil duo

McDermott is replaced by Damien McKenna at full-back.

Dermot Duffy returns to the team at centre half-back after being out of favour during Jack McCarville's reign as boss.

Scotstown cousins Gerard and Nicholas Corrigan are selected in the forward line.

Derry are expected to name an inexperienced side when they select Thursday evening.

Mickey Moran is expected to pick mainly from the development squad who are training alongside the county senior panel.

Slaughtneil duo Francis McEldowney and Niall Convery could be among the Derry starters.

Monaghan (v Derry): G Murphy, C Flanagan, D McKenna, G Corrigan, D McArdle, D Duffy, JP Mone, A Rooney, J Hughes, N Corrigan, G Meehan, T Freeman, K Tavey, R Ronaghan, D Freeman.