Canning: we don’t want a ‘celebrity management’ team

HURLING sensation, Joe Canning, says his favoured management team for next year is one in touch with the modern methods of the game and warned Galway chiefs that he and the panel wouldn’t favour a “celebrity management” team.

The county’s GAA top brass began interviewing suitable candidates for the vacant manager’s position last night and will continue the process in finding a successor to Ger Loughnane tonight.

The new county hurling manger is expected will be ratified at a county board meeting next Tuesday.

The 2008 GAA All Star was in Dublin yesterday to take part in an adidas skills-session along with GAA stars from other counties and Munster and All Black rugby players.

The most exciting hurling talent to emerge in the modern era since DJ Carey says the Galway players do not have a say in the appointment of their next manager, adding that whoever is sanctioned by the board will be accepted by the panel.

“To be honest the players I don’t know anything about the next management team,” Canning said. “The only thing we know is from the papers. Basically there are eight or nine candidates and they’re interviewing them all this weekend. We should know by next Tuesday.”

But the LIT student, who gave a tour de force in this year’s All Ireland Championship defeat against Cork admits that the panel wouldn’t favour a “celebrity management” team but people with a grip on the modern game.

He said: “As players, I don’t think we want a celebrity management – I think we want guys who are there for the last couple of years, know what hurling is about now, and know the more scientific side of it. Hopefully they’ll bring that to it and hopefully get the best out of us.’’

On Ger Loughnane’s departure, Canning admits he still has high regard for the Clare man adding that he feels the players didn’t perform during Loughnane’s two-year reign.

“We didn’t have great success under him. Still, at the same time his track record is brilliant down the years. It just didn’t work out for him.

“The players have a lot to answer as well on that because we didn’t perform, so I don’t think it’s all down to him. That’s the way it goes, that’s life, there’s lots of other managers where that can happen.”

He added that winning Liam MacCarthy is the bottom line and would signify success.

“I think it has to be – I think for any county the bottom line has to be the MacCarthy Cup. It has been 21 years now without it, and for a county like Galway that’s been producing so much over the last couple of years it’s just not on really.

“That’s a massive thing we have to sort out as quick as possible.’’