McGonagle is new head manager

ATHLETICS IRELAND have announced that Patsy McGonagle will head up the squad of team managers and deputy managers for international competitions for the 2010 to 2012 seasons.

McGonagle, the Ireland track and field team manager at the Sydney and Beijing Olympics, will be the senior team manager for all major games over the next two years, starting with the European Championships in Barcelona in July.

The vastly experienced Donegal man is in the Algarve with a group of Irish athletes on a two-week, warm-weather training camp.

Teresa McDaid, named as development team manager, will lead the Ireland team at the World University Games in China next year. She will also act as deputy senior team manager.

Hayley Harrison, from Limerick, will manage the team for the 2011 European Under-23 Championships in the Czech Republic.

Neil Martin has been appointed junior team manager, and his first big assignment will be the World Junior Championships in Canada this summer.

The deputy team manager is Brian Dowling, from Naas.

Bernie Alcorn from Donegal and John McGrath from Waterford have been appointed youth team manager and deputy youth team manager respectively for this year’s inaugural World Youth Olympics in Singapore.

Dubliner Peter Stafford and Kilkenny man John Maye have been appointed as trainee team managers.