On 20 October 2008, Cusack and John Gardiner, as player representatives, met with team manager Gerald McCarthy to inform him that the majority of players on the team had lost confidence in him. McCarthy was reappointed as manager a day later, however, Cusack and Gardiner, as members of the seven-man selection committee, did not vote on the nomination of McCarthy due to what they perceived as serious problems with the appointment process. It was later revealed that only two of the 32-man Cork panel wanted to play under McCarthy. The players on the 2008 panel, with Cusack taking a more low-key role than in previous strikes, refused to play or train under McCarthy. Cork began the 2009 National League campaign with a new squad, none of whom had been able to make the previous year's panel. After months of pressure McCarthy eventually stepped down as manager with Cusack and the rest of the 2008 panel returning to play.