Football job: speculation mounts as Wednesday meeting nears

Speculation as to who will lead Westmeath's senior footballers into 2014 is mounting, as an announcement on the position at next Wednesday's county board meeting nears.

Rumours surrounding the post have intensified in recent days, after Tyrone legend Peter Canavan stepped down as Fermanagh boss, and Armagh's 2002 All-Ireland winning skipper Kieran McGeeney was ousted as Kildare manager on Wednesday.

It is understood that somewhere in the region of ten candidates have been approached by Westmeath's county board, either as a result of recommendations by clubs, or on the initiative of a five-man committee set up by the county board to handle the selection process.

Current Lake County gaffer Pat Flanagan, who in two years has led Westmeath out of the doldrums of Division 3 league football to a place in Division 1, has expressed a desire to stay at the helm - but a lack of progress at championship level has thrown his reappointment into doubt.

Out of the initial six proposed by clubs, former Westmeath manager Luke Dempsey, Kildare selector Jason Ryan, and former Offaly star Pascal Kelleghan are out of the picture. Two more, ex-Mayo boss John Maughan and former Dublin player Jack Sheedy, were approached by the county board, with both men still believed to be in the frame.

Last week, another Dublin duo, former midfielder Ciaran Whelan and Ballymun Kickhams bainisteoir Paul Curran, were also linked to the Cusack Park role, while ex-Mayo and Galway chief John O'Mahony - who was spotted in Mullingar last weekend - was also rumoured to be in the running. However, it is expected that none of this trio are among the final candidates, with Curran committing himself to Ballymun.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that former Dublin footballer Paul Bealin - whose CV includes stints at Wexford and Carlow - is keen on the Lake County job, and has been interviewed.

But the sudden availability of Canavan and McGeeney has only intensified the flurry of speculation.

Early next week, the football appointment committee will settle on a final proposal for Wednesday night's county board meeting.

At that meeting, nominees for the county hurling management position will also be put to delegates, with incumbent Brian Hanley and former Offaly hurler Donal Franks the only contenders.

However, it is widely expected that Hanley will secure the support of clubs for another term.