Hackett hopes "to leave a legacy" as Westmeath football manager

Surprise choice or not, new Westmeath football supremo Brendan Hackett wasted no time in clarifying what he perceives to be the nuts and bolts of his role, together with his ambitions for football in the Lake County, in a lengthy and informative press briefing in Cusack Park last Sunday evening.The Monaghan native, who is in his late 40s, spelt out his short and longer-term goals, to a gathering of journalists, officials and other interested parties, when introduced by County Board chairman Tom Farrell and Football Board chairman, Des Maguire. Starting with a brief slide show of how he envisaged working with the various boards and clubs, initially to establish a panel of players for the senior squad, he soon made it clear that his would be very much a hands-on role. He concurred with Westmeath Examiner columnist Gerry Buckley's assertion that he seemed to be effectively coming on board as 'Director of Football'. "If you see Brendan Hackett as just managing the county football team, you're wasting an opportunity. I can offer so much more because of my background and experience and I hope to leave a legacy in Westmeath," he stated categorically.The new bainisteoir certainly has an impressive pedigree, both in Gaelic football and athletics and he surprised most of those present by stating that he had worked, in some capacity or other, with over half of the counties in Ireland (not all of which he was prepared to name). A graduate of the famed Thomond College in Limerick, his football coaching career commenced when he "was 19 and the players were Under-14" and it took off from there. As a 22-year-old, he managed Jack O'Shea in Leixlip, when the Kerry midfield maestro was in his prime. He recounted his spells in charge of both Longford (for three years) and Offaly (for two years) and umpteen lesser-publicised roles in a number of counties. Already this decade, he has been involved in "a silent way" with Roscommon, Sligo, Fermanagh, Limerick - he alluded briefly to his frustration over Darragh Ó Sé's last-gasp goalline catch in the drawn 2004 Munster final - Galway, Monaghan and Wexford. He also spoke of his time as trainer/coach of the Irish Compromise/International rules side, his involvement with high-profile athletes such as Eamon Coghlan and also his roles as "consultant/adviser" with a number of Irish international teams (including boxing and equestrian sports). He confirmed that he "made noises" as to his availability when the Westmeath post became vacant during the summer. "I would regard Westmeath as very talented and the thing that struck with is that there is an ambition in the county," he stated.Now living in Newcastle, County Dublin, the new manager refused to divulge his backroom team until the players are informed, but he expressed the wish that Joe Daly would stay on as team co-ordinator. He clarified that a nominated 'selection committee' will very shortly draw up a new senior panel. When queried as to the large number of the backroom "entourage" in the previous regime, he confirmed that "a doctor, a therapist, a kit man" are a given. He added: "I don't need a psychologist, or a nutritionist or an extra coach, because quite a lot of that I'll do myself."He hoped that he would bring "a new stimulus" to experienced footballers who may feel like ending their inter-county careers, in addition to coaxing some players of the required quality who may hitherto have been reluctant to put in the necessary time and effort in to training. "I don't like labels such as a 'junior footballer'. I certainly see the fitness programme as something that will turn them around. You have to create that environment where players see something different. I hope most players will come along and have a listen first," Hackett said in a comprehensive answer, which contained quite a degree of humour. He alluded to the transformation in the Clare hurlers' fortunes in the mid-1990s, having previously shipped massive beatings similar to the Westmeath senior footballers this year.Hackett conceded that "Westmeath's recent lack of underage success was a concern and I've spoken to Tom (Farrell) and Des (Maguire) about this. I don't like the term 'conveyor belt' but you need to have a platform." He stressed that it was his intention to liaise with "the six key schools" in the county. "The minor appointment is key and some of your best coaches should be working with underage players," he opined, confirming in response to a specific question that he would be keen to sit in on an interview panel if underage management positions had a number of applicants.He spoke of "the very concerted effort made in Tyrone to look after their underage players", adding that "every one of the top schools in that county have a former inter-county footballer on board." In relation to Westmeath, he emphasised: "Give us 20-year-olds and you'll see improvements. The key to it is putting the right people in place." Indeed, having spoken of the Hawthorne Effect in the world of business, Hackett summed up his philosophy for his role in Westmeath succinctly: "Get the right people on the bus, in the right seats, and then get the wrong people off the bus."On the evidence of his excellent introductory talk last week, Brendan Hackett does not suffer fools gladly and he will bring a wealth of experience to Westmeath, as a manager, coach, physical trainer and psychologist.Evidently here for the long haul, he is a jack-of-all-trades and, to date, master of all. All right-thinking Lake County Gaels will wish him well as he attempts to restore some pride to the maroon and white jersey after the annus horribilis that was 2009.