Heated exchanges as Pat Flanagan ratified as interim manager

Pat Flanagan was appointed last week as interim manager of the Westmeath senior football team for the duration of the 2010 championship.There were some heated exchanges during last week's meeting of the Westmeath Football Board at Cusack Park, before Flanagan was eventually appointed.Dessie Dolan Snr was also proposed for the position, but club delegates backed the recommendation of football board and county board officers, who proposed Flanagan for the post.However, Westmeath GAA chairman Tom Farrell gave a commitment that Dessie Dolan would be interviewed for the manager's job later in the year - if this is what the clubs want.Football Board chairman Des Maguire told delegates that he, along with Pat Lynagh (county secretary) and Tom Farrell, met a delegation of players on Sunday night and they put forward Pat Flanagan. They were "100 per cent in agreement" that this was who they wanted as manager, he said."We felt he's the only one who knows the players inside out. We feel he has a great knowledge of the players in Westmeath, having trained Kilbeggan and Tyrrellspass, and we felt we had to move fast," said Maguire.Richie Browne (Maryland) asked who gave the Football Board chairman the authority to ask anyone about the position.Des Briody (Killucan) said the football board had to appoint a manager quickly. "We couldn't come in here tonight with our mouths open," he said.Stephen Ennis (Ballinagore) complimented the football board for listening to the players. "They're the guys who are making the sacrifices - they have given huge service to Westmeath GAA."In reply to a query from Ken Eades (St Loman's), Maguire said there was no time to seek nominations from the clubs. Jim Whelan (Rosemount) said that the delegates were representing the clubs and that a decision had to be made on the night.PJ Downes (Maryland) proposed Dessie Dolan Snr for the position of manager and was seconded by Pete Gillivan (Moate All Whites).Tyrrellspass delegate (Eamonn Whelehan) supported Pat Flanagan for the post, saying he won two senior football titles with both Clara and Tyrrellspass. Gerry Coyne (C-F/C/W) agreed, stating that "we need someone who was previously in the county"."Dessie Dolan played for Westmeath, his son won an All-Ireland (U-21) and a Leinster title with Westmeath, and his nephew played for the U-21s this year. It's time that we in Westmeath buried the hatchet and just gave him a run at it," said RichieBrowne.He argued that the matter should go back to the clubs before a vote is taken and was supported by Tommy Reilly (Ballynacargy) and Pete Gillivan.Tom Smyth (Shandonagh) said a few days wouldn't make much difference, saying the important thing was to make "the right decision for Westmeath GAA".Tom Farrell insisted that "we don't have time to be playing around", adding that the matter could be looked at again when Westmeath's 2010 championship campaign comes to an end.A vote was eventually taken on whether a manager should be appointed on the night. There was a counter-proposal that a decision be deferred to the following Monday night. The first proposal (proposed by Eamon Whelehan) was carried by 27 votes to 9.Mr Browne then proposed Dessie Dolan for the position, with Eamonn Whelehan proposing Pat Flanagan. After some doubt was expressed over whether a vote could be taken on Dessie Dolan Snr since he hadn't been interviewed about the post, PJ Downes said he had spoken to Dessie Dolan and he was "interested" in the position.Des Briody said the meeting should have more respect for Dessie Dolan, adding that proposing him in this way "is not right". "I think the Dolan family deserves more respect, I'd ask the people proposing him to withdraw his name," he said.PJ Downes said he would not withdraw the proposal to appoint Dessie Dolan. When Gerry Coyne asked if it was the players or the county committee who proposed Pat Flanagan, Des Maguire said "it was a bit of both".Tom Hunt (Mullingar Shamrocks) said it wasn't in the interests of Westmeath football for there to be a vote between Pat Flanagan and Dessie Dolan. "There should clear guidelines that when the championship is over, an open appointment is made," said Hunt, adding that there should be "no agendas" and the process should be "fully transparent".Sean Kenny said he would not support players having the full say in picking a manager. He said this would put players "in a difficult situation". "From the players' point of view, there should be a representative on the committee rather than players picking a manager," he said.Aidan Maguire (The Downs) said: "Democracy is democracy. People were asked to withdraw their nomination (Dessie Dolan Snr) and they refused."Both Tom Smyth and Denis Coyne said the Maryland motion was "unfair" on Dessie Dolan and asked for it to be withdrawn. Pat Lynagh also said it should be withdrawn and Tom Hunt said it would "create division" if it's a vote between Dessie Dolan and Pat Flanagan. Richie Browne said he would not withdraw Dessie Dolan's name. In reply to a suggestion from Richie Higgins (Caulry), Des Maguire said Dessie Dolan would be interviewed for the post later in the year if that's what the clubs want.Pat Lynagh said: "We're in a crisis situation ... the management committee met with a delegation of the players - a person's name came out of that meeting and the management are putting that name forward.When the motion was put that Pat Flanagan be appointed for the duration of the 2010 championship, it was carried with 28 votes in favour, out of a voting strength of 38.At the subsequent county board meeting, Des Maguire proposed Pat Flanagan as manager and he was duly ratified.Mr Farrell appealed to everyone "to move on in the best interests of the county" and he wished "the new caretaker manager" well in the upcoming championship.