new football manager

[RhodeRunner]

Ah here, Now we're defending the county board!!!

What in the name of Jaysus is wrong with half of ye? Are ye insane? THE COUNTY IS A LAUGHING STOCK TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY! This is the sole blame of THE COUNTY BOARD! Not Sheedy, Coffee, Darby Or Niall Mc.

Maybe the people doing the defending of the CB here are possible friends or neighbours of someone the board.

All i smell here is a campaign to make the county board to look somehow good!

[kingscounty]

darby should have got the job end of.the county board are making a laughing stock of us, someone on it is stopping the appointment of a manager or something sneaky is going on.we should be looking to replace these lot aswell as looking for a new manager.brady should be left in charge of edenderry he is doing well with them and would maybe be worthy of the offaly job in few years time when and if he wins a bit more as a manager.sheedy for me is only after a big money deal so i wouldnt even consider him, darby has won in offaly as a player and manager and should get the nod this time,at least give him a shot at it and see how he gets on .he had rhode flying over the last 10 years and should have been appointed 3 years ago.

[greengiant]

WHY blame Coffy,Darby or Niall Mac all they ever gave Offaly was a 100%, who in the county board is qualified to ask Darby to review his game plan for the year....do they want him to drop the under 21 package because a certain individual on the CB wants to be a part of it ...The next Offaly manager ...will be the first to agree to this....is this the reason for the hold up all along...I think they should ask themselves why they took there jobs in the first place if they cant be honest or are they just not qualified.

[Kevin]

I am not a friend or neighbor of anyone on the county board.

I know this situation has dragged out for what seems forever.

BUT, I'd love to understand why someone would flat out refuse to go for a follow-up interview for a position they really, really want.

It does not make any sense.

Any idea if its:

1. I can't be bothered. (The usual reason someone does not return for a follow-up, but it does not seem likely in this case)
2. I said what I had to say and they have enough to make a decision. Any more talk is a waste of time. (A rather arrogant position. It assumes that nobody should have any questions about the plan and anyone who does is an idiot. Not exactly the type of message one wants to send to people who will be needed to support the manager and help him meet the objectives of our team)
3. I heard through the grapevine what these guys want to talk about and I don't want to talk to them any longer or play any of their games. My time is too valuable and they are not respecting me or Offaly football with what they are doing.
4. Something else???

[Bord na Mona man]

This wouldn't be the first time a delay in getting back to a managerial candidate caused them to pull out.
Remember Mick O'Dwyer wrote in his book about how he was lined up for the Offaly football manager's job. I think it was around 2004.
He wrote how he was interested in the job (despite 1982) and felt Offaly had potential. However after the initial discussions, nobody from the Offaly county board ever got back to him and eventually he dropped out of the running.

So Darby, Coffey and Sheedy are in good company if nothing else.

[RhodeRunner]

How's about this scenario for you Kevin,

You have just been told you have a possible job starting tomorrow, two other candidates are in for the job. Your goal is to improve the work load 10 fold in 8 months. Although under the current climate a job like this would be near impossible but your willing to give it a try. 2 months later down the road you nor the 2 other lads dont have the job. But either way if you get hired you now only have six months to come up with the same outcome. Keep in mind now that you also have to think about your own future if this doesn't work out.

WOULD YOU TAKE THE JOB KEVIN?

During this whole process the foreman has spat the dummie at the employers cause its also slowing down his promotional chances.

Shareholders sack the employers is the only outcome to get the business back on track as far as i can see..

[TheManFromFerbane]

None of this makes any sense to me. For me it had to be Darby or Coffey, personally I would prefer Darby as he brought that great Rhode team up from underage to all that success they had (with all due credit given to everyone who deserves it in the club). Coffey has done a fantastic job also but he inherited a talented team that knew how to win which is huge. But either one of them would make sense.

LS was right in that if a particular aspect of the manager's proposal was causing a problem, then that should have been communicated that that was the reason. If the manager wouldn't budge then fair enough, that's a reason to skip him over. But so far all we have is speculation because the county board has not come out and said here is where we are, they might argue that they don't want to tip their hand but we've gone beyond that. Anyone on the outside looking in is just going to add this to the list of why they would not want the Offaly job, anyone inside the county is just going to add this to the list of reasons why there should be a county board clear out. I'm not saying that should or shouldn't happen (because that question deserves a proper well thought out debate and due recognition for the work that is been done by a lot of people in the county board), but as things stand they are only making things worse for themselves with the lack of communication.

As far as I can speculate, and that's all I can do because we don't know any more. The county board were not completely happy with one particular candidate and were trying to get someone else to fill the role. If I was one of the three men I would have done the same as they were being kept on the long finger as a fall back plan should the county board not get the man they really wanted. For all our sakes lets hope the County Board get the man they were holding out for and that he will be worth all the hassle it will cause.

[Kevin]

How's about this scenario for you Kevin,

You have just been told you have a possible job starting tomorrow, two other candidates are in for the job. Your goal is to improve the work load 10 fold in 8 months. Although under the current climate a job like this would be near impossible but your willing to give it a try. 2 months later down the road you nor the 2 other lads dont have the job. But either way if you get hired you now only have six months to come up with the same outcome. Keep in mind now that you also have to think about your own future if this doesn't work out.

WOULD YOU TAKE THE JOB KEVIN?

During this whole process the foreman has spat the dummie at the employers cause its also slowing down his promotional chances.

Shareholders sack the employers is the only outcome to get the business back on track as far as i can see..

An important point in what you say above is why has a decision not been made and has any sort of explanation been given to the candidates. Has there been any back and forth discussion since the meetings or is it radio silence? I have no idea, but communication on the state of things, particularly for the candidates is very important to keep them interested. I wonder if a proposed timeframe for a decision ever came up in these discussions. I hope so, but it sound like perhaps not which is very unfortunate.

To answer your question...would I take the job:

It depends. If I feel I've been jerked around and not communicated with effectively or at all, I'd have to question my inclusion in the process for sure. If I'm still interested I explain that my plans have been affected by the delay and that is the penalty that the 'company' must pay and accept. Any long term goals should remain intact because the candidate should be given ample time to reach them (we can only hope). Weighing the current situation against what the new job will offer (pay not being part of the puzzle here) is a key consideration. Questions like, can I improve on the previous managers term? Can I instill the pride in this group of players? if the answers are yes, then the future will take care of itself. If after seeing a dysfunctional process, lack of communication, possible disrespect, I still want the job then I continue to pursue. Its not surprising that people are not interested in playing this game that seems to be a mix of blind man's bluff and musical chairs next to a steep cliff (or maybe we've already fallen over)...

[The Biff]

A new name in the frame - Gerry Cooney

http://www.herald.ie/sport/gaa/cooney-p ... 09987.html

Herald.ie ... By Frank Roche and Catherine Murphy ... Wednesday October 19 2011

GERRY COONEY has emerged as the latest front-runner for the long-vacant post of managing the Offaly senior footballers.

Controversy has dogged the appointments process in Offaly. Tom Coffey withdrew in frustration as the saga dragged on, fellow Rhode man Stephen Darby is out of the running after declining to meet the committee for a second talk, while the management plans of former Dublin star Jack Sheedy were deemed not acceptable.

But Cooney now appears to have jumped to the top of a dwindling queue. The Meath man has previously served as an Offaly selector under Kevin Kilmurray and, at one point last autumn, was deemed favourite to succeed Eamonn O'Brien in the Royal hotseat before Seamus McEnaney was instead installed as Meath's first outside boss.

[Lone Shark]

I'll be honest, the more I look at this situation, I don't think anyone comes out blameless.

(1) The candidates themselves.

While I accept that they mightn't be well treated, I've often gone for jobs where what I'm applying for is a step up on what I've done so far. In that situation, you're always aware that while you want the job and feel you can do it, the people interviewing you will have doubts. If they stall looking to get someone better, you can choose to get on your high horse and get offended, or you can choose to hope you get the chance to prove them wrong. If they say that they are considering you but would like you to take steps to improve a supposed deficiency, then I don't think that's unreasonable. Nothing about managing the Offaly footballers is an ideal world - there are heavy draws on scant resources, many of the players have a fondness for excessive socialising, and there are a lack of real leaders in their twenties on the field of play. You have to get used to dealing with less than ideal situations, and how Coffey and Darby have reacted to one here does not fill me with confidence about them. If they feel they're losing time, then do what you can and try and put as much in place so that you'll hit the ground running. If the issue is that they feel offended by the county board remaining open to other candidates, then they need to take a look at themselves and realise that neither man has managed a senior intercounty team before, Tom Coffey was tactically taken apart in the county semi final and Stephen Darby put in place a very old management team, which could struggle to relate. It is possible to feel that you can do a job while still understanding that you aren't the full package yet.

(2) The county board.

If they acted too quickly and picked someone for the sake of meeting a deadline, we'd blame them - so I'm willing to forgive a certain amount of taking time. I buy into Damien Moran's point about being railroaded into seven men on a committee which is nonsense, and above all, I would criticise them hugely for not putting in place some sort of interim management once they knew the process was going to last into October. They've let this drag on way too far. As for their communication with the candidates, only those on the inside can comment on this.

I can confirm one thing - there was no requirement whatsoever that any one man had to be included in any package. That I know for a fact.

(3) Niall McNamee

I appreciate his frustration in the sense that he's at the peak of his powers and not achieving as much as he'd like. On the other hand, I think he could be using his energy a lot better at the moment.

Look at the recent lockout in the NFL - despite being off duty, most of the teams put together their own training camps to make sure they didn't fall behind. If senior players like Niall, Ciarán McManus, Scott Brady, Karol Slattery and the like were to put the word around the county that they wanted to hold open training sessions and any players with an interest in playing county were welcome to be involved, then it would happen. They could use their experience to help young players out in terms of what they should be doing over the winter, and we wouldn't be losing ground. It's all about physical preparation at this time of year anyway, it doesn't require tactical innovation or anything like that. If the players really wanted to get going, why do they need a manager to pull them together - it's not like we're talking about an under 14 development team or anything here.

[clubman]

load of bull lone shark,we know your heart is with they county board,one man is causing a problem in that he doesnt want one of the canidates and that is personal.we need a manager now so we can prepare for kildare who is one of the fittest teams around. niall mac has given a lot to offaly over the years and has every rite to speak out if things are not right so stop licking county board arse

[bracknaghboy]

I'll be honest, the more I look at this situation, I don't think anyone comes out blameless.

(1) The candidates themselves.

While I accept that they mightn't be well treated, I've often gone for jobs where what I'm applying for is a step up on what I've done so far. In that situation, you're always aware that while you want the job and feel you can do it, the people interviewing you will have doubts. If they stall looking to get someone better, you can choose to get on your high horse and get offended, or you can choose to hope you get the chance to prove them wrong. If they say that they are considering you but would like you to take steps to improve a supposed deficiency, then I don't think that's unreasonable. Nothing about managing the Offaly footballers is an ideal world - there are heavy draws on scant resources, many of the players have a fondness for excessive socialising, and there are a lack of real leaders in their twenties on the field of play. You have to get used to dealing with less than ideal situations, and how Coffey and Darby have reacted to one here does not fill me with confidence about them. If they feel they're losing time, then do what you can and try and put as much in place so that you'll hit the ground running. If the issue is that they feel offended by the county board remaining open to other candidates, then they need to take a look at themselves and realise that neither man has managed a senior intercounty team before, Tom Coffey was tactically taken apart in the county semi final and Stephen Darby put in place a very old management team, which could struggle to relate. It is possible to feel that you can do a job while still understanding that you aren't the full package yet.

(2) The county board.

If they acted too quickly and picked someone for the sake of meeting a deadline, we'd blame them - so I'm willing to forgive a certain amount of taking time. I buy into Damien Moran's point about being railroaded into seven men on a committee which is nonsense, and above all, I would criticise them hugely for not putting in place some sort of interim management once they knew the process was going to last into October. They've let this drag on way too far. As for their communication with the candidates, only those on the inside can comment on this.

I can confirm one thing - there was no requirement whatsoever that any one man had to be included in any package. That I know for a fact.

(3) Niall McNamee

I appreciate his frustration in the sense that he's at the peak of his powers and not achieving as much as he'd like. On the other hand, I think he could be using his energy a lot better at the moment.

Look at the recent lockout in the NFL - despite being off duty, most of the teams put together their own training camps to make sure they didn't fall behind. If senior players like Niall, Ciarán McManus, Scott Brady, Karol Slattery and the like were to put the word around the county that they wanted to hold open training sessions and any players with an interest in playing county were welcome to be involved, then it would happen. They could use their experience to help young players out in terms of what they should be doing over the winter, and we wouldn't be losing ground. It's all about physical preparation at this time of year anyway, it doesn't require tactical innovation or anything like that. If the players really wanted to get going, why do they need a manager to pull them together - it's not like we're talking about an under 14 development team or anything here.

The most sensible post I've read in a long time. Sums the situation up perfectly.

[hard2watch]

This is some load of bull....we are in the dark ages!!why the f... should any of the above go back in for a follow up interview,such rubbish.They put their cards on the table,what more do the committee want??What wasters we have in the County Board,harmless stupid c.... like your man on the microphone during the county final "will the owners of car reg numbers........ all during the f...... game,who gave a shit,clamp them or take them away but please shut the f... up.If we dont have a manager by this weekend i cant see many bothering to support any County draws in the future and rightly so..And by the way Paul O Kelly is the best man for this position but of course the same ass..... screwed him years ago so he wont insult himself,Darby would have been the obvious choice.

[Lone Shark]

load of bull lone shark,we know your heart is with they county board,one man is causing a problem in that he doesnt want one of the canidates and that is personal.we need a manager now so we can prepare for kildare who is one of the fittest teams around. niall mac has given a lot to offaly over the years and has every rite to speak out if things are not right so stop licking county board arse

Eloquent.

The county board are trying to fill the most important role in Offaly football, at a time when the job makes little or no appeal to outsiders. I don't consider them blameless at all, as was pointed out above. If Niall is correct that the management selection committee was held up from meeting because they had other commitments, then I agree completely that those people shouldn't have gone on the committee. There are those on the committee who say otherwise and that it was down to potential candidates stalling the process. I won't get involved in guessing games about who's right or wrong.

Above all, I think they've dropped the ball spectacularly by not looking after the team in the absence of a manager.

However I do not agree for a minute that they should hurry things along just because candidates are putting pressure on them to do so. Ultimately the Offaly county board are the ultimate boss here, so they have to get the right call. If that involves asking candidates back in for a second interview to clarify some points, that's up to them. The candidate in turn has the right to either say (1) Yeah, sure, meet you X day and Xpm, or (2) I've said all I have to say, you can hire me or not on the basis of what I've told you, or (3) I no longer wish to be considered. All legitimate answers, but no less legitimate than the Board's right to clarify some points before making the appointment.

Is it personal? That's the first time I've heard that. Seeing as you seem to be on the inside track, care to share who you feel is being discriminated against. Based on your previous posts I'm pretty sure I know who you think should get the job, but it would be interesting to confirm it all the same. I know the whole rumour about Laz having to be a selector was garbage, so that's not it anyway.

As for Niall, I agree completely that he has the right to speak out. That does not however mean that he is or was well advised to do. I do firmly stand by my belief that if there were real leaders in this Offaly panel, the players would be training right now. There are countless ways this could have been done if the will was there. Niall is spiritually a leader of this group and if he asked players to meet up, they would have done so. I do stand by my belief that he would have been much better doing that than complaining on the radio, however understandable his frustration might be. He has certainly made a rod for his own back now anyway, so I hope he does decide to step it up as a result.

[Lone Shark]

This is some load of bull....we are in the dark ages!!why the f... should any of the above go back in for a follow up interview,such rubbish.They put their cards on the table,what more do the committee want??What wasters we have in the County Board,harmless stupid c.... like your man on the microphone during the county final "will the owners of car reg numbers........ all during the f...... game,who gave a shit,clamp them or take them away but please shut the f... up.If we dont have a manager by this weekend i cant see many bothering to support any County draws in the future and rightly so..And by the way Paul O Kelly is the best man for this position but of course the same ass..... screwed him years ago so he wont insult himself,Darby would have been the obvious choice.

Agree with you on the whole announcing of registration plates thing, though I'm not really sure of the relevance. I had to laugh last Sunday when they asked for a car to be moved with twelve minutes to go in the senior final. As if anyone was going to leave at that stage.

Couldn't agree with you less on the follow up interview thing. Of course the board are entitled to ask someone to come back in. If the candidate in question feels they have nothing further to add that's up to them, but I've yet to see a good job that was landed on the strength of one interview. The last PAYE job I had, I did three interviews to get it - and I knew I was going to hate the job. The point is that I wanted it, so I didn't throw a strop, I just did what had to be done.