Five candidates to be interviewed next week for football job

Date Published: 16-Sep-2010

Dara Bradley

The five confirmed and officially nominated contenders for the Galway football management job will be quizzed by an interview panel next week.

Football Board Chairman John Joe Holleran told delegates at a meeting on Tuesday that no late ‘wildcard’ nomination will be added by the board to the field of hopefuls which includes Gerry Fahy (Oranmore), Pete Warren (Tuam Stars), Matt Duggan (Annaghdown), Pat Fallon (Barna) and Tomás Ó Flatharta (Kerry).

At the meeting, delegates Gerry Hussey (Dunmore McHales) and Gearóid Denver (Micheál Breathnach) were appointed to the five-man selection committee that will interview the contenders.

Board Chairman Holleran, Treasurer Milo Costello and Vice-Chairman Michael Ruane, had already been appointed to the committee at a meeting last Monday week.

If the selection committee deems, following the interview process, that none of the five candidates are suitable for the position, then the Football Board is unlikely to seek nominations from clubs again and instead will commence the process of ‘head-hunting’ a suitable candidate.

A Galway-based bookmaker suspended betting on former Cork manager Billy Morgan last Friday after he was spotted in discussions with an official from the Galway football supporters club.

There was widespread speculation following the suspension of betting that he would be offered the post but it is understood the meeting with Morgan, however, had nothing to do with the vacant manager’s position – the official was apparently canvassing support for an upcoming golf fundraiser.

The Football Board confirmed last night that it is still hopeful that a manager will be in place by the end of September or beginning of October.

In a separate development, it now appears increasingly likely that Holleran will be challenged for the position of chairman at the Football Board’s Annual Convention.

At least three men – a former Galway footballer and selector from Connemara; a former Galway footballer from Caherlistrane; and a current Football Board official – have been canvassed by supporters to mount a challenge to Holleran’s reign.

At this stage, months away from the Convention, which is usually held on the last week in November or first week of December, no challenger has publicly declared an interest in contesting the position and forcing a vote. But at least one of the three is expected to put their name forward for the Chairmanship.

Meanwhile, former Galway double All-Ireland winner Paul Clancy has been drafted in as selector to the Laois senior football team. The Moycullen man will join newly appointed manager Justin McNulty’s backroom team.

The current Galway hurling manager John McIntyre met with Hurling Board Officials last night (Wednesday) as per the decision made by hurling delegates a few weeks ago. The appointment of the Galway senior hurling manager for the next two years will take place at a meeting of delegates this coming Tuesday. It had been due to meet Tuesday just gone but it was deferred until next week.

The County Board was also to meet with the Hurling Board last night (Wednesday) to discuss the fallout from the staging of the U-21 final in Tipperary’s home ground, Semple Stadium.