Cribben appointed new Offaly manager

The Offaly GAA Co Board have moved swiftly to appoint a successor to Richie Connor tonight by installing Tom Cribben as their new senior football manager, following a Co Board meeting at Tullamore.

Cribben will take over with immediate effect as the Clane native tries to patch together an Offaly side in turmoil following the departure of Connor.

An interim management team was appointed after Connor was left with little choice but to resign from the position after the players gave a vote of no confidence in the Walsh Island native on Saturday, February 7.

Cribben will bring plenty of experience to his new role. He previously managed the Laois senior footballers from 1998 to 2000, while also managed Kildare minors for a two-year spell.

As a player he won five senior football titles with Clane and managed them to championship success on two occasions. He also managed Edenderry to an Offaly senior football title and O'Hanrahan's to a Carlow county crown.

On a administration level, he served as chairman of Clane GAA club from

2005 to 2007.

The interim management team of Phil O'Reilly, Tom Coffey and Vinny Claffey had input in the appointment of Cribben and will remain on as his selectors until he can source new selectors in the coming weeks.

The trio were part of the Offaly side which last won the Leinster senior football championship in 1997, beating Meath in the provincial decider.