Former Kildare player backs Flanagan for manager role
Former Kildare county star Brian Flanagan is one of the contenders for the vacant senior football role Photo: Sean Brilly
Former Kildare defender Andriú Mac Lochlainn is firmly backing former teammate Brian Flanagan as the hunt to find the county’s new senior football manager kicked off with a County Executive Committee meeting last Thursday night, But Mac Lochlainn believes the county appear to be “behind the curve by a couple of weeks” in the recruitment process for the role.
Eighteen days after the resignation of Glenn Ryan, the Executive met on Thursday night to kick-off the process of finding a replacement manager for the county’s flagship team.
A brief tweet announced that “Following a Kildare GAA Management meeting this evening, the Chairperson along with the executive officers are commencing a process of appointing a new Senior Football Manager,” with the County Board unwilling to give any further detail to the Kildare Nationalist.
The selection of Ryan three years ago saw Kildare engage the services of an external consultant, Michael McGeehan, assisting Chairperson Mick Gorman, Vice-Chairperson Colm Farrell and Treasurer Alan Dunney.
Speaking to the Kildare Nationalist, Mac Lochlainn expressed concern at the idea of those outgoing executives, all of whose terms expire in December, being the ones to select the replacement for Ryan.
In his eyes a Committee should have been formed from parties who are interested in running for Chairperson and other senior executive positions.
“They should be discussing and outlining, and I think publicly, what are their goals for Kildare football for the next five years. Because if you are going to hire a manager you need to know that as a Committee.” As for being behind the curve, Mac Lochlainn goes on:
“I think you could have at least reached out to Glenn and said, after we’re in the Tailteann Cup, ‘Look, what is your plan for next year?’
“This happens in every walk of life, business and sport alike. I’m sure Glenn would have said ‘look, we’ve turned over every stone here and, as he said, we’ve gone as far as we can with this group’ or whatever the case may be.”
“That is when you start your search for a new manager, putting together a committee, making a shortlist of people, making initial contacts.” As for that man?
“I know the man, that just has to be Brian Flanagan. I just think it’s as plain as the nose on your face. Look at what the man has done with the underage in Kildare. Bring him in along with whoever he wants to bring to the table.
“I don’t think an external manager with a two or three year window is the solution for where we are?. There could be a bounce but they’re not a Kildare person and they’re not here for the long haul.” “Brian’s a serious individual. He’s got serious experience. He worked in Westmeath as a number two, he’s worked in colleges, he’s been a manager in his own right at inter-county level, got to two All Ireland finals, won one, he’s managed clubs. He’s in his forties, he’s been around a long time at playing level and coaching-wise.” On a positive note, MacLochlainn feels strongly that Kildare can have a bright future.
“We have an opportunity here. People look at this and say it’s doom and gloom but for me this is a massive opportunity. It’s the most exciting time it could possibly be in Kildare football. We’ve a huge amount going right at club and schools level, underage level and we just need to tweak a few things here. It takes time at senior level, but we have really good talent and we’re losing some of them that aren’t transitioning to senior. You could be a hero in the County Board for changing things, but you need to have the self-belief and confidence.”
