Ryan may link up with Lilywhites

Former Wexford manager Jason Ryan is strongly fancied to join Kieran McGeeney as Kildare’s new coach.

Speculation was rife yesterday that the Waterford man will be joining the Armagh native, replacing John Rafferty who left the coaching brief after one season in charge.

Last month, McGeeney’s long-standing selector Niall Carew also quit.

Sources close to Ryan, 36, said he has been contacted by a number of teams about managerial positions since he stepped down as Wexford manager in September after five seasons in charge.

Ryan has already turned down the opportunity to manage Waterford.

However, they would not confirm whether Kildare is one of the sides who have approached him.