Six in the hat for Westmeath football job
A total of six names have been suggested by football clubs in Westmeath with regard to the county's senior football management position.
Incumbent Pat Flanagan - who is seeking a fourth year at the helm - has been nominated by his old club Tyrrellspass, whom he guided to Westmeath SFC titles in 2006 and 2007.
During the week, the Clara native signalled his desire to build on the Lake County's league successes, which saw them promoted to Division 1 in April.
A Leinster championship breakthrough, however, continues to elude Flanagan, and with five other names in the hat, some clubs have shown an appetite for a new voice in the Westmeath dressing room.
Among the other candidates suggested by clubs is the vastly experienced former Mayo, Clare, Roscommon and Fermanagh manager John Maughan, who led Mayo to All-Ireland SFC finals in 1996, 1997 and 2004.
Kildare selector and former Wexford boss Jason Ryan is also in the running, after being nominated by at least one club. Ryan steered Wexford to two Leinster finals and an All-Ireland semi-final appearance in five years with the Slaneysiders.
Also understood to be in the running is former Offaly U21 manager and Rhode legend Pascal Kelleghan, who has experience as a club manager in Meath and Kildare, leading Monasterevin to county and Leinster IFC titles in 2012.
Former Westmeath, Carlow and Longford boss Luke Dempsey has also been nominated. Dempsey, who took the Lake County to an All-Ireland quarter-final in 2001 after coaching All-Ireland minor and U21 title-winning teams, is currently manager of Kildare club Moorefield.
Finally, former Dublin midfielder and ex-Moorefield and Edenderry manager Jack Sheedy - who was unlucky to miss out an All-Ireland medal in 1995 due to injury - is the sixth name in the hat.
On the hurling side, as was widely expected, incumbent Brian Hanley has been nominated for the position of Westmeath senior hurling manager.
One other candidate, however, has been nominated by clubs - former Offaly hurling star and Birr manager Donal Franks who, as manager of Clonkill in 2010, has some knowledge of the Westmeath hurling scene.
All candidates are expected to be approached by football and hurling appointments committees, and if they express interest in the posts, they will be interviewed by the same committees.