Flanagan given one year at Sligo helm

Pat Flanagan has been ratified as manager of the Sligo senior footballers for 2014.

He has been given a one-year term which will be reviewed at the end of the season.

Flanagan was understandably disappointed with Westmeath's decision to end his tenure with the midlanders this year, with the Westmeath County Board opting to appoint former Dublin player Paul Bealin to the role in September.

As Westmeath manager, Flanagan helped the Lakesiders rise from Division 3 to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League, and he now faces a fresh challenge as Sligo's successor to long-time boss Kevin Walsh.

The Offaly man brings a wealth of experience to the position and his managerial CV also includes county successes with club sides Clara and Tyrrellspass.

He will be meeting the Sligo players this week in addition to finalising a backroom team shortly which forms part of the management of the Sligo Under-21 squad.

Flanagan will have to work quickly to revive Sligo's fortunes as they narrowly avoided relegation from Division 3 in 2013, winning only two of their seven league games, and lost to London and Derry in the Championship.