County Manager Merry go round

[Shamrock Shore]

Paddy Christie is with Longford for another year.

Hope Mickey Harte retires from Inter County management.

[screenexile]

Malachy O'Rourke has to be strong favourite to become the new Derry manager.

I find it hard to believe he would leave Glen mid season. Would Derry wait for him? I think they'll walk Derry but can't see them getting out of Ulster again.

[Captain Obvious]

Give the Derry job to Joe Brolly, for all his talk can he walk the walk?

[Ethan Tremblay]

Who would be favorite for the job now? O'Rourke presumably if available after Glen's season wraps up?

If the next manager fails to win anything or under perform in the league and championship presumably he is expected to fall on his sword?

[Cunny Funt]

Andy Moran stepped down tonight from the Leitrim senior gig after three years in charge.

I thought in the paper that Andy was looking another 3 year term.  It was in the paper last week.

They got promoted to Div. 3 and he seemed happy enough to go for another term.

Only thing he said was a 1 year term was no good and he wanted a 3 year term.

What happened?

County board probably didn't agree on the length of time he wanted to say.

Harte will likely have one more gig in him before he retires I wonder will Leitrim or Kildare interest him.

[marty34]

Andy Moran stepped down tonight from the Leitrim senior gig after three years in charge.

I thought in the paper that Andy was looking another 3 year term.  It was in the paper last week.

They got promoted to Div. 3 and he seemed happy enough to go for another term.

Only thing he said was a 1 year term was no good and he wanted a 3 year term.

What happened?

County board probably didn't agree on the length of time he wanted to say.

Harte will likely have one more gig in him before he retires I wonder will Leitrim or Kildare interest him.

You'd think CB would be haply to give Moran 3 years after the job he's done with them.

Re: MH. I don't think Leitrim would be of interest to him - not much potential for growth. Louth was ideal. Big population with potential.

[blanketattack]

Harte delivered Derry's first national silverware in 16 years.

It's more than Stephen Rochford, Padraic Joyce, Kieran McGeeney, etc have won as managers.

[From the Bunker]

Harte delivered Derry's first national silverware in 16 years.

It's more than Stephen Rochford, Padraic Joyce, Kieran McGeeney, etc have won as managers.

Stephen won a National Title with Corofin.

[trueblue1234]

Harte delivered Derry's first national silverware in 16 years.

It's more than Stephen Rochford, Padraic Joyce, Kieran McGeeney, etc have won as managers.

Eaten bread soon forgotten.

But it's good news. I can get back to hating on Derry without any conflicts of interest.

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

Surprised with how dramatically it went wrong for Mickey but not that it didn't work out, it was never a good fit. Said for years that he stayed with Tyrone too long and was left behind as a manager, the team was consistently set up badly and failed in the big games with the balance between defence and attack way off. His success with Louth was impressive but was really down to him being an impressive figure and leader who united a county who were underachieving. Once they were pulling together (and S&C sorted) it wasn't surprising they kicked on as the talent was there. Once they reached a level where they were playing teams with similar talent he'd have been found out again.

Derry on the other hand had already made those gains. They needed someone to find a better balance between defence and attack and to help them with big games in Croke Park. The two things Mickey hadn't done for over a decade. McGuinness coming back with Donegal was a nightmare for him too given Jim had owned him in the previous decade and seen Mickey subsequently obsessively try (and fail) to out McGuinness McGuinness.

It was quite funny from a Tyrone perspective to watch Derry's shambolic Championship performances this summer but really nobody wins from this. Derry have wasted a summer (and a bit of money) and whoever comes in has a bit of work to do with dealing with the fallout from some of those hammerings. Mickey's reputation as a manager has taken a battering and unfortunately his reputation as a Tyrone legend is damaged by taking the Derry job. His achievements will last forever but you just don't a job like that with a rival county. A lesson for others.

Actually one team did benefit - his departure came at a perfect time for Louth and they got someone better to build on what he had done and kick them on.

[Captain Obvious]

How many people knew about this Louth talent before Harte became manager of them? They had a better/longer championship this year and a worse league campaign. 2025 will likely show how much Louth has actually kicked on under Brennan or year one under him was more about the ground work that was already done by Harte.

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

How many people knew about this Louth talent before Harte became manager of them? They had a better/longer championship this year and a worse league campaign. 2025 will likely show how much Louth has actually kicked on under Brennan or year one under him was more about the ground work that was already done by Harte.

They very obviously had a level of talent in the county that was above Division 4 level and that was no secret. Mickey was the ideal man as a leader and figurehead to get people on board and motivated and that was no mean feat. Once that was done though, the talent, hard work and momentum did the rest and they rolled through Division 3 and did well in Division 2. Mickey deserves lots of credit for that and Brennan clearly benefitted from getting a motivated, fit and united setup. Mickey had pretty much reached his ceiling there though, the same old tactical and micro management issues would make further gains unlikely. Ultimately change came at a good time for Louth. Derry clearly hadn't done their homework.

[Captain Obvious]

How many people knew about this Louth talent before Harte became manager of them? They had a better/longer championship this year and a worse league campaign. 2025 will likely show how much Louth has actually kicked on under Brennan or year one under him was more about the ground work that was already done by Harte.

And Tyrone won All Ireland year after he went... big year ahead for Derry. Mickey laying foundations!

Derry's All Ireland title to lose in 2025.

[naka]

How many people knew about this Louth talent before Harte became manager of them? They had a better/longer championship this year and a worse league campaign. 2025 will likely show how much Louth has actually kicked on under Brennan or year one under him was more about the ground work that was already done by Harte.

And Tyrone won All Ireland year after he went... big year ahead for Derry. Mickey laying foundations!

Derry's All Ireland title to lose in 2025.

Can't seeing it staying in the 6 counties 2 years in a row 

[yellowcard]

How many people knew about this Louth talent before Harte became manager of them? They had a better/longer championship this year and a worse league campaign. 2025 will likely show how much Louth has actually kicked on under Brennan or year one under him was more about the ground work that was already done by Harte.

Harte went into Louth at a good time. They were division 4 when traditionally they had mostly yo-yoed between divisions 2 & 3. So he was starting from a low base. He did raise standards though and done a good job there especially in getting them into division 2 and keeping them there in their first season. A bit similar to Rory Gallagher when he took over the Derry job when the only way was up since they would have been traditionally a division 1/2 side languishing in division 4.

Football is played totally different to when Mickey Harte had his most successful years and sometimes you've got to know when to fold them.

As for successors, I would be very surprised if Derry went back to Rory Gallagher at this stage. They've already had one PR disaster with Mickey Harte and reappointing Gallagher would be another huge own goal. There are plenty of other good options about as the job must be an attractive one to get this time around.