Frontrunners may not get the job

SEAN Kelly and Eamonn Barry have emerged among the frontrunners in the race to take over as Meath football manager according to survey conducted by the Meath Chronicle this week. Former Armagh manager Joe Kernan has also been nominated, however, he is unlikely to go forward for the position. Kelly and Barry appear to be high on the list of popular contenders to replace Colm Coyle after they were nominated by a number of clubs. The nominations closed on Friday, but the Co Committee remain tight-lipped about who and how many have been put forward with chairman Barney Allen informing the Meath Chronicle this week that they will not be releasing any information at this stage. A sub-committee has been specifically set up to oversee the appointment of the new manager. This will involve contacting all the nominees, compiling a short-list and conducting the interviews before agreeing on a candidate who will put forward to the clubs at the September meeting. It is our understanding that this sub-committee will comprise five senior officials, chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, central council delegate and PRO. Each club in the county was entitled to submit a nomination for the positions of senior, under-21 and junior football manager by last Friday. According to our survey of over 20 clubs, both Kelly and Barry have been put forward for the position by a number of clubs. Other nominees include Dudley Farrell, who has received at least two nominations, Tony Kearney, Luke Dempsey, Damien Sheridan, Jody Devine, Mick O"Dowd and Paddy Carr. The Co Committee may also nominate a candidate of their own, independent of any person put forward by the clubs. This suggests that they could opt for a 'big name" from outside the county. Each person nominated will be asked if they are interested in going forward for the post and will be invited to attend an interview. After the interviews, the Co Committee will put forward an agreed candidate for endorsement by the clubs at next month"s regular meeting. Club delegates will then have to decide on the night and are likely to accept the candidate put forward who will have a good starting position with 15 votes from the Executive already in the bag? The lack of information surrounding the appointment is sure to irritate some involved in the local GAA scene who would like to have time to reflect on each candidate and their suitability for the post. However, under the current format, delegates cannot take the Co Committee nomination back to their respective clubs for ratification and this could be perceived as a weakness in the election process? It is also clear from the Meath Chronicle survey that some clubs didn"t nominate any candidate for the vacant position. This was down to a variety of reasons from the simple fact that no meeting was called to discuss the issue to a feeling that there is no candidate currently in the running who stands out. There is also a feeling of apathy out there that clubs no longer have a significant say in who is going to become the next manager. 'Clubs don"t have a real say any more, they don"t come into it at all,' said Ballinlough secretary Donal Crossan. 'The clubs can nominate who they want, but the reality is that the final decision is made by the Co Committee in Navan and that"s it,' he concluded. One official said that he had no problem with the current system whereby the Co Committee assess who has been nominated for the position, carry out the interviews and then present a name to club delegates, for ratification or rejection. Other club officials felt that the new manager, whoever he is, should be appointed for a minimum two or three-year term to give him time to rebuild a new side in the post-Geraghty, Fay era. 'What can any manager do in a year, the new man should be given two or three years at least,' added one official. Barry and Farrell have for some time indicated that they would be interested in taking over. It is understood that Sheridan and O"Dowd would also be willing to go forward for interview however, Tony Kearney has already ruled himself out of contention saying that his position as principal of Carlanstown National School would not allow him the time needed to manage an inter-county team. Navan O"Mahonys chairman Jarlath Fitzsimons said that the nomination process of appointing should be held over until the end of August, at least, when many clubs would be out of championship contention. He felt that all the talk of appointing a new Meath manager created an 'awkward situation' for current club managers who have been named and who might genuinely be interested in the position and for the respective clubs involved.