Find us a manager

CAVAN have created GAA history by becoming the first county to engage an independent recruitment company to assist them in finding a new football manager.Adding to the intrigue is that the company, SportsTracker, has former GAA President Peter Quinn as its chairman and employs former Down manager Pete McGrath as a full-time technical director. Others listed on the technical support team include Mickey Harte (Tyrone) and Brian Cody (Kilkenny).McGrath, who led Down to All-Ireland glory in 1991 and 1994, will play a major part in the process of finding a replacement for Donal Keoghan who resigned last month.In what is a new development, the Cavan vacancy has been placed on the website of sportTrackerjobs.ie, inviting applicants to submit their CVs for consideration.McGrath will vet the applications in association with the Cavan County Board and advise them on whom he regards as best suited for the job. He will also form part of the interview team. "Everything will be done in conjunction with the County Board. This is an exciting initiative by our company in an area where we believe we can bring a high level of expertise," said McGrath.The new approach to appointing a manager does not rule out candidates who don't wish to formally apply to the website as Cavan clubs have been given until next Monday night to make nominations."Using SportsTracker brings a new dimension to making the appointment. Eventually, all candidates who either apply or are nominated will be considered. We want to make the best effort we can to find the right man for the job which is why we're involving SportsTracker," said Cavan County chairman, Philip Smith.Cavan will not be charged a fee for the service, according to Peter Larkin, the managing director of SportsTracker, the Dundalk-based company which he founded last year to provide analysis support systems for sportspeople. It has since expanded into the recruitment area, providing a specialist service for the sports and leisure industry."We are providing our services free of charge to Cavan in order to increase our brand awareness," said Larkin who is current PRO of the Louth County Board.Nevertheless, this latest development will come under the watchful eye of Croke Park amid fears that using an outside agency to appoint managers could spread to counties and clubs on a professional basis into the future.The fact that a former president chairs the company involved in the latest intriguing development in the ever-changing face of the GAA.- Martin Breheny Download our iPhone App Now