Cribbin given the nod as westmeaths new football manager

 

Tom Cribbin was confirmed as Westmeath’s new senior football manager at the County Board meeting last night (Tuesday).

The former Offaly and Laois manager will also take charge of the Westmeath under-21 team next year.

Cribbin has been appointed for a three year term, with a review after two years.

His backroom team will be finalised at a later date, with Westmeath County Board chairman Sean Sheridan hopeful it will be in place within two weeks.  

When Cribbin’s name was put forward to club delegates, a show of hands indicated an overwhelming majority were in support of him. It was not deemed necessary to count the votes.

However, some delegates questioned why former Westmeath star and selector Jack Cooney was not put forward for the position.

Mr Sheridan refused to get involved in any discussion on other candidates and he called for “full support” for the new manager. The chairman said Westmeath will be competing in a “very strong” Division 2 of the Allianz Football League, adding that there is “a lot of work to be done”.

Cribbin’s appointment brings an end to a long-running saga which saw outgoing manager Paul Bealin and Peter Leahy proposed for the position only for both of them to be turned down by club delegates.

Indeed, Westmeath are the last county to appoint a football manager for the 2015 season. The county is eligible to return to collective training on November 15, so the pressure was growing to have a manager in place. 

A native of Clane, Cribbin guided the Kildare club to senior football success on two occasions. He also led Edenderry to the Offaly senior football title in 2001.

*See full report in next week’s paper.