Browne resigns as Westmeath ladies football boss
The Westmeath ladies senior football side will have a new manager in charge next year following the resignation of Frank Browne on Wednesday.
He led Westmeath to a second successive Leinster Intermediate title this year.
Chairperson, Geraldine Giles praised the level of professionalism the Wexford native brought to the role and said the ladies football side’s profile has risen in the past three years under his watch.
“Westmeath Ladies Football acknowledges the huge contribution that Frank Browne brought to the role of Manager of our County Senior team over the past three years. Back to back Leinster Intermediate titles and coming within the tightest of margins of All-Ireland appearances over the past two seasons has heightened the profile of our Senior team and County,” she said.
“We thank Frank for the professionalism, vision and commitment he brought to the role. His enthusiasm and belief in what can be achieved is infectious and thank him for the work he invested in the role, the miles travelled and wish him and his family all the very best wishes for the future,” she added.
In a statement, Frank Browne said he is grateful to everyone for their support during his tenure and thanked Westmeath LGFA for placing their trust in him.
“After three years in the role, I have decided to step down as manager of the Westmeath Ladies Football team. This is not a decision I have taken lightly. When you give three years of your life to something, you build relationships, memories and bonds that go far beyond football, and that is what makes walking away so difficult.
“I want to sincerely thank the Westmeath County Board for giving me the opportunity and for the support and trust shown to me throughout my time in the role. I also want to thank every member of the management and backroom team who shared the journey with me. The hours, the hard work, the laughs, the difficult days and the shared ambition created something that I will always look back on with great fondness. I am genuinely grateful to each and every one of you,” he said.
“A huge thank you also goes to our sponsors and to everyone who supported Westmeath Ladies Football. Your backing and encouragement means a great deal and is hugely appreciated. To the players, thank you for your commitment, honesty and effort over the past three years. It has been a privilege to work with you and to see the sacrifices you have made for the Westmeath jersey. I want to wish every one of you the very best for the future and hope you go on to achieve everything you are capable of.
“I also want to acknowledge the families, friends and clubs of the players. The commitment required to play inter-county football doesn't just belong to the players themselves. There are countless hours, journeys, sacrifices and support behind every player who pulls on the jersey, and that contribution should never be underestimated. Thank you for everything you have done for the group.
“A very special thank you goes to my own family. They have made their own sacrifices over the past three years, put up with the long evenings and weekends and supported me through the highs and lows that come with the job. I could not have done it without them, and I will always be grateful for that,” he continued.
“One of the things I will take from my time with Westmeath is the importance of belief and culture. But ultimately, that culture has to belong to the players. It is important that you take ownership of it, protect it and drive it forward. The standards, the togetherness and the belief in what Westmeath Ladies can become cannot belong to one manager or one management team. They have to come from within the group and be carried forward by the players themselves. I hope the foundations are there and that you continue to build on them.
“I leave the role with enormous pride, but more than anything, with gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity, for the people I have met, the friendships I have made and the memories that will stay with me long after football.
I will always be proud to have been Westmeath manager. And ultimately, that is what matters most to me - that when I walk away, we have left the jersey in a better place than we found it,” he added.