Stakelum rules out Tipp role

DUBLIN selector Richard Stakelum will not enter the race to succeed Liam Sheedy as Tipperary hurling manager.

Stakelum said he was flattered to be linked with the “incredible” job in his native county but confirmed his commitment to working alongside Anthony Daly in Dublin for the next two years.

Stakelum is also based in the capital in his day job with Pfizer and admitted stepping into the Premier hot-seat is simply not feasible at present.

And Stakelum, who captained Tipperary to a Munster title in 1987, when he famously declared “the famine is over”, has urged county board officials to approach former team-mate Ken Hogan about the top job.

Former senior boss Hogan guided Tipperary to All-Ireland U21 success this year, with Dunne operating as coach but appeared to rule himself out for a return to the senior post.

Stakelum said: “I know Ken for a long number of years and he’s a man of incredible integrity. It was interesting to see Ken make the call very early and very quickly when he said that he had been there and worn the tee-shirt. I don’t know if Ken would reflect again but somebody of his stature and experience would be a very good choice along with Tommy Dunne. I’d be surprised if the county board don’t have a chat with Ken. If I was in their shoes, I would make soundings to Ken.”

Ruling himself out, Stakelum said: “It’s an incredible job to be taking on but I’m committed to working with Dublin. I’ve an incredibly busy job at work as well. It’s a non-runner. In a lovely, fanciful way, being from Tipp and being raised there would pull at the head if somebody came to talk but sanity would have to prevail.”

The Borrisoleigh native added: “What I think would work in Tipp is the template that has been put in place with a general manager or managing director type of figure with fantastic people around him. Tommy Dunne’s name has been mentioned but I think you need somebody with Tommy who is a bit older. I think that Tommy has to be in the mix somewhere.

“He’s earned his stripes as a coach, an excellent coach, but this requires a bit more than just somebody’s coaching ability. Having said that, if Tipp threw it at Tommy, it’s not as if he doesn’t have credentials but it’s a huge ask at this stage in the man’s career.”