Football Board was 'undermined'

After claims that the Westmeath Football Board was being "undermined", it was eventually decided last week that Tom Farrell (County Board chairman) and Des Maguire (Football Board chairman) would form a committee to seek a new manager for the county's senior football team. Mr Maguire had claimed that the football board was being "undermined". He said the initial debate in relation to appointing a new manager should take place at a meeting of the football board rather than of the county board. Noting that the football board has had control of its finances taken away, Mr Maguire said that the appointment of a county manager is a matter which should come before the football clubs. "We're putting the cart before the horse. We should take the views of the football clubs and then come back to the county board," he said. Des Briody (Killucan) said: "There is no such thing as football clubs or hurling clubs, they're all GAA clubs." Tom Farrell said no decisions were being taken at this meeting and that the county board was merely seeking the views of clubs. He said any decision will be taken in conjunction with the football board. Mullingar Shamrocks delegate Terry O'Dowd (also a football board official) said he had previously questioned "the viability of the football board" and he was now doing so again. "Any decision made here is imposed on the football board, we have to run with it. This is taking over the one function that the football board has," he said. Richard Browne (Maryland) proposed that delegates appoint a committee to look for a new manager. Questioning the amount of people involved in the backroom team, he said: "We have appointed a manager in the last few years and he then appoints ten with him. Do we really need three physios?" Denis Coyne (county board treasurer) said the normal practice in recent years is that the football board decides on the method of appointing a manager. Mr Browne said: "We don't want this to be going on till August and September, we could be talking all night about methods and methods." Paddy Collins (development officer) said the only body who can appoint a manager is the county committee. He said the two approaches could be "incorporated" in that the committee given the task of looking for a manager could include members of the football board, and that clubs could suggest managerial candidates to this committee. County secretary Pat Lynagh suggested that the county board chairman and football board chairman each look for two or three people to form the committee and, after Des Maguire accepted this proposal, it was agreed by the delegates. Mr Maguire said he hoped to meet Tom Farrell in the following few days in order to decide on the make-up of the committee. Mr Farrell thanked outgoing manager Tomás Ó Flatharta for the years of service he has given to Westmeath GAA. The county chairman said Ó Flatharta did "tremendous work" for Westmeath over the six years of his involvement, first under Páidí Ó Sé, and then as manager for four years. "Every team has a dip and we went through it this year," said Farrell, who also thanked all members of the backroom team. Ken Eades (St Loman's, Mullingar) said the county board should tell prospective new managers how football matters will be run in the county, rather than the other way around. He said club football championship matches should not be held up for months and, if a potential new manager isn't happy with this, the county board should look elsewhere. Mr Eades also said clubs should be given nomination sheets so that they can propose a candidate for the position of manager, and they should also be allowed to propose people to sit on the committee that will look for a successor to Ó Flatharta. John Cunningham (Ballymore) said the county board needs to devise a strategy before appointing a manager and that a long-term approach is required. Despite the extremely disappointing results this year, he said: "I'll still think there's a huge number of players who have a lot to give the county." Sean Carroll (The Downs) said that results at minor and under-21 level have to be looked at, and that a steering committee should be established to bring up the standard of underage players in the county. Jim Whelan (Rosemount) suggested that a manager should be appointed within the next two or three weeks as the club championships will be coming to a close in September, and a new manager will need to see players in action. Stressing that "time is of the essence", Eddie Newman (Bunbrosna) said the group stages of the club championships are nearly over. However, Tom Farrell warned that appointing a manager "won't happen overnight".