Next Laois football manager

[Don Draper]

I wonder could Dessie Farrell be approached? Good record with Dublin minors and doesn't seem to be with anyone. Would he be a football version of Fast Eddie B?

Funny you mention Eddie.

Dessie is in the Dublin hurling backroom team sent packing by Eddie.

And Eddie lived and worked in Laois.

[The PRO]

I wonder could Dessie Farrell be approached? Good record with Dublin minors and doesn't seem to be with anyone. Would he be a football version of Fast Eddie B?

Funny you mention Eddie.

Dessie is in the Dublin hurling backroom team sent packing by Eddie.

And Eddie lived and worked in Laois.

Didn't know that about Dessie Farrell. I actually wouldn't be a fan of him after his GPA time. But he appears to be a good coach, no?

[portlaoisekid]

Sugrue did a good job with Laois at a bad time for Laois and really it seems like he has the hard work done in terms of weeding out his squad and bringing fresh faces in. With Division 2 and 2 years conditioning under these lads its a surprise he left.

Its a pity we didn't hear why he left , if only just to stop the endless rumors doing the rounds about certain groups of players and /or our CB etc.

If he ends up with Kildare as coach or manager it will be some kick in the teeth to Laois football.I'd say thats unlikely and I would probably say his next move will be to a top club team.

As to where we go from here I dont know, there are no credible options within  the county at the minute and as for outsiders we dont have the money to get a top manager.I suspect  another journeyman incoming or else taking a total punt on an Eddie Brennan type recently retired player .

It seems every ounce of optimism that was built up in Laois football over the past 18 months or so has now disappeared.

[High Fielder]

Good post PK. Optimism is an appropriate word. Players get involved because of that optimism. People start following the team and put their money down because of optimism. Sugrue created that optimism. My optimism is shot right now and will be until I hear why he stepped down.

[Jd]

Has it occurred that he's stepped down for personal reasons and it's not being reported out of respect for his privacy. He's a good honorable family man and family comes first. I'm terribly disappointed that he's gone but I'm sure his reasons are solid and he doesn't need to tell the county his business. After all he isn't being paid and didn't have a contract

[Tony]

It seems every ounce of optimism that was built up in Laois football over the past 18 months or so has now disappeared.

I definitely wouldn't go that far - we've made huge progress over the past 2 years. But until the managerial position is sorted, it's on pause for now. Hopefully CB aren't stupid enough to get evans or l.dempsey or one of those. Would personally love if the sugrue situation could be resolved and he comes back - stranger things have happened.

[High Fielder]

Has it occurred that he's stepped down for personal reasons and it's not being reported out of respect for his privacy. He's a good honorable family man and family comes first. I'm terribly disappointed that he's gone but I'm sure his reasons are solid and he doesn't need to tell the county his business. After all he isn't being paid and didn't have a contract

I could accept that. And you can say that in a statement, just like you have, and everyone would walk away. However, our CB have made too many bad appointments, and made too many bad decisions, to be given impunity. I trust Sugrue more than them and I'd rather hear it from the horse's mouth

[Giovanni]

I don't think he's the kind of man that would be making statements about difficulties with the county board (or whoever). That wouldn't be his style. I have no idea what the reasons are but I doubt we'll be hearing them from the horses mouth.

It would be good however to know what the County Board did to try to keep him in place. Surely the clubs and supporters could reasonably ask that question?

[SpeculativeEffort]

Im going to throw the name Mick Bohan into the pot. Dublin ladies manager, worked with Jim Gavin as a selector, did very well with Clare.

[GAA-SMART]

I wonder could Dessie Farrell be approached? Good record with Dublin minors and doesn't seem to be with anyone. Would he be a football version of Fast Eddie B?

Dessie over Na Fianna.. he only has one job on his radar..

Mick Bohan would be a good candidate as mentioned above.

Sugrue is a hard act to follow tho lads, will be in the mind of anyone new to inter county management that has aspirations

[blueandwhite1]

If they don't have a clear passion or vision for Laois, or a shit-hot CV then I personally would not like to see one of these backroom lads / former selectors.

That is, would love to see a big name like Malachy O'Rourke or Rory Gallagher. Failing that, start looking at local lads like Clancy, Higgins, Billy Sheehan. Billy in particular seems to be unpopular with some of the folks on here but there would be no shortage of passion and drive.

Of course it would be great to have Sugrue back but that rarely happens. 

[Countyminor]

Billy Sheehan would be my insider pick. Got a lot of stick from absolute clowns who couldn't kick a ball themselves to save their lives during his career. He'd take no prisoners as well. Anyone who knows Billy would tell you just how articulate and methodical he is. Wouldn't mind seeing Clancy getting it alternatively.

[Keyser Söze]

Maybe I was harsh on LT there, and maybe their list being so similar to this thread is symptomatic of the lack of options we have.

From what I know of Sugrue you can be guaranteed
1. There will be no parting shots fired type statement
2. He won't be changing his mind next week & walking back into the job
3. He won't be heading North up the M7 because he was offered a few quid more.

[BallyroanAbu]

Billy Sheehan is not an insider pick,  he is merely serving his own C.V as he did when he played for Emo and Laois.  Be he a success or failure he adds nothing long term to Laois.  Sugrue long term even now will benefit Laois.  Whatever reasons he left I doubt it's to manage another county. Billy is an outsider the same as Micko (utterly useless long term) and all the others we choose to waste our money on for short term success.  Give it to someone in Laois,  good or bad he will be better for the experience.  I am for Malachy, Clancy, Kearns or Cotter all are risky but all will be giving back to Laois football in 50 years.  If Billy wants to come down live in Laois train a club, I have no objection.  But it's high time, we copped on to ourselves improve our own coaching rather than waste time on what are high risk outsiders anyway.  No objection to paying outsiders to help our management but the top job must remain within.

We need to make our own coaches better.

[From the Terrace]

Im with high fielder on this. Need to hear from sugrue about his decision. If he says Family & Business to look after first that is grand. But very surprised with the whole situation.