Search for new Galway boss to start next week

Date Published: 18-Aug-2009

FOOTBALL Board officials and club delegates will meet early next week to put in place procedures to select the next Galway senior football manager after Liam Sammon last week declined the option of another year in charge.

The Board hopes to have a short-list of possible hopefuls whittled down in the next three weeks and is expected to announce the new manager in late September or early October, so he can put a panel together before the November and December ‘closed season’ for collective county training; and well in advance of the next competitive action, the FBD League in January.

Sammon informed players of his decision not to continue for a third year at a meeting at Loughgeorge last Wednesday night – the former All-Ireland medal winner will meet with County Board officials this week however to discuss a new schools coaching and promotional role for him throughout the county.

Although 2009 had been a relatively disappointing year for the Galway footballers, who lost their Connacht crown to bitter rivals Mayo last month and then crashed out of the championship by losing to Donegal a week later, Sammon had signalled his willingness to take up the option of a third year and his decision came as a shock in football circles.

And despite speculation that Sammon was pushed, Chairman of the Football Board, John Joe Holleran, yesterday described as “absolute rubbish” suggestions that player power had forced the manager to rethink his future.

Holleran also denied that a delegation of disgruntled players approached him last week to voice their concern over the re-appointment of Sammon or that such a meeting had taken place, before Wednesday’s panel meeting.

“Liam Sammon is the finest gentleman that ever wore a Galway jersey and ever stood in a Galway dressing-room – you wouldn’t find a nicer, more honourable gentleman who has served Galway football so well for the past 40 years. I’d be sorry to see anyone leave the position but I’d be a lot sorrier if, like other managers, he cut all ties with the county. Thankfully, Liam isn’t going to do that and he will still be involved with advising clubs and the board and coaching schools and colleges,” he said.

Holleran added names of Sammon’s successor being “bandied about” are just speculation. Already, Minor All-Ireland winning captain Alan Mulholland, Kerry legend Mick O’Dwyer, Sligo manager Kevin Walsh, former All-Ireland winning captain Ray Silke and current minor manager Gerry Fahy have, to varying degrees, been touted as replacements.