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Brody, Seale, Cotter, Healy, Lillis, Boyle, Smyth, Dillon, Cahillane and Rodgers would all be valuable additions to the Laois squad this year. Here is hoping Lillis can get these lads on board.

While he obviously isn't the most high profile candidate I think if we take a step back and look at his record at club level I think we have got a decent manager on our hands. He has won county titles with Palatine (first in 50 odd years), St Laurences (first title ever) and a few with Portlaoise at different times at different levels. He is a football man through and through and I think its been long overdue that a Portlaoise man get a crack at the job. Hopefully he will be able to bring in a strong backroom team and all the players buy into his vision.

He would have been appointed if Fitz had decided to leave the Kerry job, apparently.

Think you're talking absolute horse shit there Tony.

If we were to go for an outside candidate my personal choice would be Donie Buckley, but I did hear yesterday that he was in talks with the Tipperary footballers. If we were to go internal I think we should look at someone who could oversee a complete overhaul of the footballing structures from U-10 upwards. This senior team is going no where, if we want to be a successful footballing county we need to build from the ground up. Donie Buckley would be the ideal candidate to oversee that in my opinion but if we are looking at an internal candidate then it should be someone young and hungry and while I dont think Higgins has done anything of note really at club level he has shown to have a good football brain and a desire hunger to succeed. Maybe with a more experienced head at his side.

I heard a rumour that Mick Lillis has been approached for the job. Don't know how reliable the info is but I said I would share it.

Billy Sheehan for the job?

Please tell me you are joking. I mean of all the people I have heard mentioned. Even Pillar Caffrey is a better suggestion and that was laughable.

Very little yet, committees being formed, questions being asked. I also heard a rumour there was an online push for Niall Tully to get the job, please f**k that doesn't happen.

Not trying to be a Holy Joe or anything Don, but could you please cut out the expletives in your replies. Almost every reply you post have them and to be honest does nothing for the good points you are trying to make, in fact it makes you sound like a delinquent schoolboy.
There is no need for it and I think you would be taken far more seriously if you cut it out as you are a good poster and contribute some very valid points to this forum.

I think Don has dug his own grave at this stage. A lot of posters on this forum seem to have a complete lack of decorum and there is a complete respect for the other posters and their opinions. At least on Laoistalk there was a moderator to filter out some of this stuff so the real issues at hand could be discussed.

As for the management issue, I cant see any movement until we are well into the Club Championship. But the word is the CB is going to look local. Niall Tully has been mentioned a good bit on this forum for some reason, AFAIK he has no first hand management experience with a senior team? He has been a number two for Tommy Conroy and he trained a school team. No disrespect but there are better placed candidates within the county for the top job. Not ruling him out as a selector/trainer if he does have something to offer but I think we should be going for someone who has at least won county titles at club level.

Bit of strange transfer news, but Ballypickas (between Ballyroan and Ballinakill if you've never heard of them) have drafted in two hurlers from Wexford. I believe one of them has represented Wexford Intermediates at some level. Don't know the connection but seems like a good bit of business for an intermediate club.

What has Tully shown to prove he deserves the job? f**k all.

The money was there for Justin. The money will be there for another recognised coach. I'd call James Horan.

The money for McNulty came from a certain Nite Club owner in Dublin apparently, it wasnt directly out of the CB coffers. I doubt we will be able to rely on a benefactor again.

I get the feeling we are going to appoint an internal candidate which are few and far between.
Tommy Conroy was mentioned but given his work commitments I cant see him being able.
Pat Roe at least has inter county experience but didnt do a good job at Offaly (but not many have).
Mick Lillis was been involved with the minors but has a lot of detractors within the county.
Joe Higgins has yet to win anything at club lever bar a league and a kelly cup and was essentially ran out of Graigue.
Chris Conway similarly has no managerial experience at inter county level and suggestions that he would work along side Higgins are laughable.
Mark Kavanagh is currently involved with the Westmeath management team so depending on how well they finish this year I cant imagine him leaving them if they are on an upward curve. Especially after being overlooked for Sean Dempsey.
Mick Dempsey - if you think he is going to leave Kilkenny for the pure hardship of Laois football you have a screw loose.

So all in all the field is slim and short on quality. If I was a betting man I would imagine that the CB will appoint a management team heavily based around the 2003 winning squad.