Gaynor pleads for patience in Tipp manager hunt

FORMER manager Len Gaynor has urged Tipperary officials to be patient as the search continues for Liam Sheedy’s successor as senior hurling manager.

Nicky English announced yesterday he won’t be returning to the post and the county board are now turning their attentions to other contenders.

Ken Hogan, All-Ireland U21 winning manager this year, has ruled himself out while Tommy Dunne is viewed more as a potential coach than manager.

Officials may decide to sound out Hogan once again and move the former goalkeeper and Dunne from the U21 set-up to fill the senior management and coaching voids.

Another option is to ask former player Declan Ryan to take over as manager as he has already worked alongside Dunne in the past, when Tipperary won the All-Ireland minor crown in 2007.

1991 All-Ireland winning captain Declan Carr is also interested in taking over but Richard Stakelum, a Dublin senior team selector and Tipp native, has also ruled himself out.

Another possible contender is Michael Cleary, the Nenagh man who won All-Ireland SHC medals in 1989 and 1991 and four consecutive All Star awards between 1990 and 1993.

Cleary coached Tipperary’s camogie team to three successive All-Ireland titles from 1999-2001 but again, business commitments could prove a stumbling block.

Gaynor, who managed the Tipp seniors in 1997 and 1998, said: “If they have a manager this side of Christmas I would be happy. They shouldn’t rush it just for the sake of it.”

Gaynor also believes that the increasing demands on modern day intercounty managers should see them financially compensated.

He said: “Expenses should be shoved up a good bit. They’re entitled to remuneration because whatever way you look at it, they’re losing time from work. For the likes of Brian Cody in Kilkenny, it’s not too bad because he’s a 9 to 3 man and very adjacent to Nowlan Park.

Meanwhile, former Tipp star Eamonn Corcoran is disappointed English won’t be returning.

Corcoran starred at wing back for Tipperary in 2001 when English masterminded All-Ireland glory and the JK Brackens man said: “From an ex-player’s point of view, I would have loved to see him coming back.

We all hold Nicky in high regard. Someone like Nicky, after Liam, is what we needed but look, with his job and in the current environment, guys are very busy.

Corcoran added: “Liam spoke about 16 hour days and he was spot on. He would have had meetings with players and video analysis, getting home at maybe eleven or twelve at night and back up at six or seven in the morning.

“We were all hoping that Nicky would give it a go; it’s disappointing but everybody respects his decision and in the current environment, coming back is not easy.”