Outsider could be parachuted into big football job

Date Published: 07-Oct-2010

Dara Bradley

A NEW Galway football manager is expected to be appointed this weekend – a candidate outside of the four nominations may be ‘parachuted in’.

Football Board chairman, John Joe Holleran told Tribune Sport on Wednesday that last week’s interviews with hopefuls Gerry Fahy, Pete Warren, Matt Duggan and Tomás Ó Flatharta were “very satisfactory” but he did not rule out reports that a candidate outside of the four is being considered.

It emerged earlier this week that a second round of interviews with a couple of the nominees would take place, but Holleran yesterday confirmed he has not contacted any of the quartet since last Wednesday’s interviews.

The five members of the selection committee were still deliberating on the interviews, he said. “We had the interviews and we’re sifting through that now. At this particular time we’ve no plans to go outside, and that is the position until there is a change. In fairness to the four it wouldn’t be fair to say at this stage that we’d look further,” said Holleran.

There was speculation in football circles this week that John Maughan – who pulled out of the running for the Mayo manager position – may be under consideration.“At this particular time all we are dealing with is the four names that have been given to us. You know what I think of newspaper speculation; any names that are being mentioned is just that – speculation.

“No, we haven’t (contacted the four) but if we need further information we’ll get back to them. As I said to you, we expect our deliberations to be complete by this weekend. We expect that (an appointment will be made this weekend) but it might go a day or two over that,” he said.

The new Galway senior football manager – whoever it is – will have a ‘baptism of fire’ in the upcoming National Football League campaign, with four away matches including three trips to Ulster and one match ‘under lights’ in the Kingdom.