Jack Cooney is in pole position to become the next Westmeath football manager after delegates rejected a proposal to appoint Peter Leahy to the role last night.

The St. Malachy's manager had lined up a backroom team which would have included former Mayo midfielder Liam McHale, The Downs manager Tommy Kelly and Micheal Reynolds - who had served as a selector under him when Westmeath won the All-Ireland ladies intermediate title in 2011 - but delegates voted 24-19 against the selection committee's preferred candidate, citing a lack of inter-county experience on Leahy's part for doing so.

Following last night's debacle, former Westmeath star and selector Jack Cooney has emerged as the clear favourite to fill the vacancy, with reports suggesting that current Westmeath ladies football manager Martin Flanagan and two-time All Star defender John Keane will be on his ticket.

The current Celbridge manager was one of five other candidates who had been interviewed for the position before the selection committee recommended Leahy for the job.

A new selection committee has been formed to seek out a manager and clubs have been informed that they can nominate candidates outside those who were already interviewed.

Meanwhile, ex-Westmeath hurler John Shaw has suggested - tongue firmly in cheek - that new hurling boss Michael Ryan should manage both teams! The former Waterford supremo has been appointed for a three-year term.

 

Best of luck to our new hurling manager Michael Ryan maybe he could do the football job as well #westmeathgaa

- John Shaw (@johnshaw2014) October 8, 2014

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