New Glynn role as Galway Utd step up plans for new season

HE may have missed out on the top job, but Johnny Glynn’s involvement with Galway United is set to increase next season after he accepted the position of Head of Football Development at the club.

Just as in 2013, when Tommy Dunne got the job, Glynn was believed to have been in the final shake-up for the position of first-team manager, a post which eventually went to Shane Keegan.

However, club sources at the time hinted that Glynn was not being snubbed, but rather the club had something else in mind for him, and just what that was has now been revealed with this latest announcement.

Glynn managed the club’s U-19s last season, and brought them all the way to the league decider in October, where they were beaten by UCD. As well as his new role as Head of Football Development, Glynn will also be joining Keegan’s backroom team as First Team Coach.

“I want to make sure that every young player gets the opportunity to progress through to fulfill their potential,” Glynn said following his appointment.

“We have a great opportunity in Galway in terms of player development. Last year we did really well and we showed what we could do with some talented players from Galway City and County, Clare and Mayo, which was backboned by a solid structure and good coaching staff.”

Keegan said Glynn’s appointment was a hugely significant development for the club, and he is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with Glynn – the pair sat their UEFA PRO licence together.

“Johnny’s got an absolute wealth of football knowledge and particularly Galway football knowledge, so he was a huge part of trying to get the right infrastructure in place at the club, I’m so delighted that we’ve managed to get him on board,” he said.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.