Des Newton will be ratified as Roscommon's new football manager at a county board meeting next week.

The former county defender, who is a brother of ex-midfielder John, will commute from Dublin for training and matches after being offered the position in recent days. He will succeed 2010 Connacht SFC winning manager Fergal O'Donnell, whose decision to step down last month took the Roscommon football fraternity completely by surprise.

A school principal based in west Dublin, Newton has been involved with Kilmacud Crokes in recent years and served as a selector under manager Paddy Carr this year. He also has experience of working with development squads in Donegal where he was previously based.

Former star forward Nigel Dineen has already been installed as Roscommon's new U21 boss in succession to Jimmy Gacquin for the coming year. Tweet

Most Read Stories