No end in sight as search for new Laois boss continues

The prolonged process of appointing a new Laois senior hurling manager will trickle into next month.

The midlanders have been without a manager since late August when Cork legend Teddy McCarthy resigned after just one year in charge.

Former Laois hurler Paddy Cuddy and Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett, the county's minor hurling boss, have since been given the task of finding a suitable replacement for McCarthy.

A newspaper report last weekend linked Niall Rigney with a possible return to the fold. Rigney, a former Portlaoise team-mate of Plunkett's, had quite a successful spell managing Laois between 2008 and 2010.

He has been working with Kilkenny club James Stephens of late, while it is understood that a number of outsiders are also being considered for the vacant role.

Laois may indeed opt to appoint another manager from outside the county, despite the fact that the last two - Brendan Fennelly from Kilkenny and Corkman McCarthy - only lasted one season each.

McCarthy's successor will not be revealed until December 17 at the earliest, when the next Laois County Board meeting takes place.

Laois GAA officials held a meeting earlier this week but there was no candidate put forward for ratification.

"We met Seamus and Paul last Friday night and they are still looking for the right candidate, so it will take more time," Laois GAA PRO Pascal McEvoy told the Irish Independent.

"They have been, and will be, speaking to people and they'll continue to do that. We are hoping to secure someone by our next county board meeting."

The new man in will have little time to gel with the players - Laois are due to play UCD in the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup on January 20. They will compete in Division 2A of the Allianz League after suffering relegation last season.