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Flanagan favourite for Westmeath job

Tuesday April 20 2010

Pat Flanagan has emerged as the favourite to take over the Westmeath football management post following the resignation of Brendan Hackett.

The Offaly man is expected to be nominated ahead of Wednesday's county board meeting.

"Time is against us," said county chairman Tom Farrell. "With the championship around the corner we need to put a new management team in place as soon as possible."

That process will begin with a management committee meeting, followed by a football board meeting, and finally a gathering of county board delegates to agree on an appointment.

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news ... 44442.html

Another Offaly footballing missionary enters heathen territory trying to educate the natives.

he would be a better man for the offaly job than tom cribbin i think.

It's hard to know if this is a job to avoid with a bargepole or a useful one to take on on a short term basis, given that Westmeath are at rock bottom morale and results wise. The Hackett regime will be looked back on as a disaster, regardless or not of whether he had great long term plans. I recall that Westmeath were similarly rubbish in the 2004 league and there was rumblings of discontent with Páidí Ó'Sé until they just got on with it. But for the few years before that there was discontent with Luke Dempsey as he wasn't a "big" enough manager. It's all down to getting the players to play however there may be little hope of meeting expectations. Having said that it would be a good experience for a club manager to come in and get what he can out of them and work with whoever is willing to work.

leinsterman wrote:he would be a better man for the offaly job than tom cribbin i think.

Why do you think he would be better than Tom Cribben?

The very best of luck to Pat Flanagan on his appointment. His club record has justifiably provided him with the opportunity of Inter-County Management.

I don't think any of us will be defecting, but I'd like to see him do well enough to progress himself further and possibly prepare him for bigger things.

Sniper wrote:

leinsterman wrote:he would be a better man for the offaly job than tom cribbin i think.

Why do you think he would be better than Tom Cribben?

well its not rocket science its cribbins second league campaign and offaly are still in division 3 .
also there has been a few good footballer's that have left the panel in the last year . after the meath match
you know what i am saying.

It is worth mentioning that Pat Flanagan presided over a good Westmeath win over Wicklow on Sunday.
I believe he is the first Offaly man to manage a team to beat Micko 'Bluffer' O'Dwyer.

Bluffer! Gotta love those Laois lads!