Ballintubber hot seat up for grabs

Hotseat up for grabs in Clogher


Mike Finnerty

DESPITE sounding out a number of potential candidates, Mayo SFC winners Ballintubber are still on the hunt for a new senior team manager.
The Abbeysiders have been boosted by the news that two key members of their backroom team, Jim Twohig (trainer) and Jim O’Toole, will be staying on for the 2011 season but club officers are still searching for someone to take over from James Horan.
A club spokesman told The Mayo News last night that former Ballintubber stalwarts, Pat Lally and Vinnie Keane, are also set to join the senior squad management team to work alongside the new manager.
Former Mayo captain, Noel Connelly, is believed to be among the managerial candidates who were sounded out by the newly-crowned county champions in recent weeks. However, he was not in a position to take on the role.
Club officials are hoping to have a new manager in place inside the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, Shrule/Glencorrib are also in the process of appointing a manager for next season’s campaign.
Kenneth Mortimer took charge of the South Mayo outfit last year but it is unclear whether or not the former All Star will return for a second term.
A players’ meeting to discuss the matter took place last week and club officials confirmed yesterday that the senior manager position remains vacant.
Elsewhere, Knockmore are also understood to be looking for a new manager after Nigel Reape’s decision to step down after two years in charge due to personal and work commitments.
However, John Healy (Ballina Stephenites) and Norman O’Brien (Ballinrobe) are both back for another season in the bainisteoir bibs.
Meanwhile, Ballaghaderreen, Moy Davitts and Davitts have ‘got their men’ with Kieran Gallagher, Pat Clarke and Pete Warren, respectively, all being appointed in recent weeks.