Let manager pick his own selectors, says Cahalane

FORMER Cork star Niall Cahalane believes the County Board should allow the Rebel’s next senior football manager appoint his own selectors.

Cahalane said football in the county should be taken by ‘the scruff of the neck’ and pointed to the success of the new policy with the senior hurling side as a reason for his belief.

“Twelve months ago Cork hurling appeared to be in trouble. But along came Donal O’Grady and look what has happened since he got permission to name his own selectors.

“If there is a man out there like O’Grady who would take Cork football by the scruff of the neck then I believe he should definitely have a say in who his selectors should be,” said Cahalane.

However, current minor football coach Diarmuid O’Donovan has mixed views on the situation. “I have been involved with the Cork minors for some time and the selection committees I have worked with were selected by the board. These men brought their own special expertise to the job whereas if a coach was allowed to pick his own selectors some of them would have been overlooked.

“I don’t think there should be complete autonomy on either side and I would be in favour of the coach picking the selectors in consultation with the committee that elects him,” said O’Donovan.

A seven-men committee consisting of County Board chairman Jim Forbes, secretary Frank Murphy, treasurer Pearse Murphy and four members of the board, Jim Murphy, Denis Owens, Bob Honohan and Finbarr Hennessy, has been put in place to appoint the coach to the Cork team for next season.

Originally this committee was also given the power to name the selectors but that scenario could now change.

At the next board meeting delegates will consider two notice of motions placed before them.

The first from Beara representative Michael Reynolds seeks to have the coach pick his own selectors, while the second from Central Council representative Bob Honahan states that when the coach is appointed any request from him to name his own selectors should be considered by the board.

Given this is what happened in the O’Grady case it seems likely permission will be given to the new football coach to choose his own selectors.

Meanwhile, former All-Ireland winner John O’Leary faces stiff opposition as he bids to retain his role as Wicklow manager.

Former county star Hugh Kenny from Baltinglass; Peter O’Neill from Greystones; and Gail Dunne, Wicklow, who has managed minor and U-21 county teams in recent years are all bidding for the position.