Meath delay naming their new manager

MEATH HAVE delayed by at least a week the naming of their new senior football manager, as speculation continues over whether the county selection committee have opted for former Monaghan manager Séamus McEnaney.

A county board meeting to ratify a new appointment was originally scheduled for this evening, but has been put back to next Wednesday, although even at that stage more time may be needed in order for the nomination to go before the Meath clubs for final approval.

McEnaney remains the leading contender to succeed Eamonn O’Brien, who was controversially out-voted for another year in charge, although former Meath under-21 manager Gerry Cooney also remains in the running.

Representatives of the Meath County Board were due to meet McEnaney again last night for details of his backroom team and costs, which is expected to include former Armagh selector Paul Grimley, trainer Martin McElkennon, as well as current Skryne manager Liam Harnan, and another former All-Ireland winner, Martin O’Connell, to join as a selector.

Cooney’s candidacy is reported to include former All-Ireland winner Darren Fay. It’s possible that both candidates will be put before the delegates of the clubs and a straight vote would decide the outcome.

The three-man committee in charge of putting the candidates forward consists of county board chairman Barney Allen, former All-Ireland-winning captain Joe Cassells, and Liam Keane, the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee chairman.

The Tipperary County Board are in no great rush to name a new hurling manager in succession to Liam Sheedy, with county chairman Barry O’Brien indicating it would most likely be the end of the month before anything is agreed. With Nicky English having ruled himself out of contention, the likes of Declan Carr, Tommy Dunne and Declan Ryan are considered the main contenders, with the possibility of Dunne and Ryan joining forces.

The committee to find a new manager consists of the chairman, plus four county board officers (vice-chairman, treasurer, secretary and PRO) and the four divisional chairmen.