Antrim boss Ryan rules out Déise move

One of the frontrunners to succeed Michael Ryan as Waterford senior hurling boss has ruled himself out of contention for the job.

Kevin Ryan insists he has no interest in filling the vacancy in his native county, quashing rumours that he would resign his Antrim post if offered the Waterford position.

The Mount Sion clubman formed part of Justin McCarthy’s backroom team from 2005 to 2007, with bookmakers placing him third in line for the job at odds of 5/1. Ryan was among the leading contenders to replace Davy Fitzgerald on the last occasion the county’s managerial position arose, but was overlooked in the end.

Ryan, having previously served a four-year spell at the helm in Carlow, was ratified for a second term as Antrim boss on Monday night and stressed the Déise job is not for him.

“I have been reappointed Antrim manager and I don’t have time for anything else” he said.

“There is an awful lot of speculation down here with regard to the managerial position. My name is continuously being linked with it. I am totally ruling myself out.

“It is not that I am getting annoyed with it, but there are people picking up on it in Antrim. At a meeting the other night one of the senior players said to me ‘are you going to be here next year?’

“I am by no means favourite, but it was almost mine last time and lads down in Waterford are big-time linking me with it. Nobody has approached me.”

Waterford County Board chairman Tom Cunningham maintained they had no preference as to who should step into the breach, despite mounting speculation that De La Salle coach Derek McGrath will be offered the role.

“We don’t rule anyone in or out at this stage,” Cunningham said.

“We haven’t talked to anyone. A sub-committee will be put in place on September 11 at the next meeting of the Waterford County Board and they will come back with a recommendation for a new manager.”