Input of clubs sought for football and hurling posts
Clubs in Westmeath have until next Wednesday evening to decide whether or not Pat Flanagan and Brian Hanley should be returned as Westmeath senior football and hurling managers respectively, and if not, who should take their place.
At a county board meeting in Cusack Park on Wednesday night, club delegates sanctioned an interview process for both positions, and were instructed to come up with candidate nominations which will be discussed by five-member committees.
It is understood that Westmeath football supremo Flanagan is keen to secure another year at the helm, after steering his troops to Division 1 status in the league, though a championship breakthrough continues to elude him.
No names were mentioned at Wednesday's meeting, but it is expected that Clara native Flanagan will be among the nominees. Westmeath minor football manager Tom Carr has been linked with the post after taking his charges to a Leinster final this year, though heavy defeats to Kildare and in the subsequent All-Ireland quarter-final against Mayo haven't helped his case.
Mullingar Shamrocks delegate Terry O'Dowd called on the county board to step in and seek out a football manager with, in the mould of the late Páidí Ó Sé, a "proven track record" at inter-county level.
Inevitably, former Lake County boss Luke Dempsey – now in charge of Kildare club Moorefield – has been linked with his old job. Dempsey, who led Westmeath to unprecedented success at minor and U21 level, as well as an All-Ireland SFC quarter-final in 2001, was nominated for the position last year, but did not put his name forward.
There are also whispers that Kildare selector Jason Ryan, who guided Wexford to two Leinster finals during his five-year tenure with the Slaneysiders, would be favoured by some clubs should the Flanagan era come to an end.
Meanwhile, hurling clubs in Westmeath are also invited to send in nominations for the position of senior hurling manager, though incumbent Brian Hanley is expected to get widespread support for another year at the helm.
Two committees have been set up to oversee the interview and appointments process, headed up by county board chairman Sean Sheridan and secretary James Savage.