Coup for Salthill in signing up Mannion

FORMER Galway United manager Tony Mannion is making a surprise return to League of Ireland football after renewing his relationship with Salthill Devon.

In something of a coup for the city club, Mannion has been appointed as Salthill Devon’s new Head Coach and will take up his new position from January 1.

Hugely respected within the game, Mannion’s new role will entail not only responsibility for the management and coaching of the Airtricity League team, but will also embrace all aspects of directing and developing the coaching structures across the full spectrum of the club, including Nipper Academy, Juvenile and Youth, Girls and Ladies, U19 Airtricity League and adult football.

Mannion returns to Salthill Devon after a number of years during which he has been working with the FAI in the role of Coach Educator. He has played a pivotal role in the development of coaching at all levels throughout the country during his tenure at the FAI, working closely with technical directors Packie Bonner and more recently with Wim Koevermans.

With his vast experience of League of Ireland football and his acknowledged commitment to coaching and developing local players, Mannion will be expected to revitalise the club’s impact on the game where the brave decision to compete at the highest level with home grown talent, on an amateur basis, has proved a real challenge.A club spokesman said: We have selected Tony Mannion for this critical role as Head Coach of the club because of his pedigree in the game, his unambiguous commitment and deep understanding of the game and the ethos of our club.

“Tony was the Project Manager on the development of the Drom facilities and he appreciates the depth of the club’s commitment to the development of each individual player to be the best that he/she can be, while also developing our volunteer coaches who are critical to providing individual focus and attention to the large number of children entrusted to our care.

“Continuous development both on and off the field is key and Tony Mannion’s track record in the game we feel personifies that attitude and aspiration. Salthill Devon entered the ‘A’ Championship and the League of Ireland First Division to provide a platform for the outstanding young players we produce, to compete at the highest level. After two years in the First Division we concluded that we need to make changes in how we prepare and compete, and key to that change was the requirement to appoint a Head Coach. 

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