No decision yet on football management proposal

"No decision" has been made on who will be proposed as the next Westmeath senior football manager, despite increasing speculation that St Malachy's boss Peter Leahy's name is to be put before clubs tomorrow night.

Westmeath county board chairman Sean Sheridan insists that all six candidates for the position - among them the Westmeath trio of Leahy, former Westmeath selector Jack Cooney and former Mullingar Shamrocks manager Ned Moore - are still in the running, and will be considered by the appointment and management committees later tonight.

Among those also in contention are former Meath and Monaghan manager Seamus 'Banty' McEnaney, ex-Waterford boss Niall Carew, and two-time Galway All Star Val Daly (an uncle of Westmeath footballer, Daragh Daly).

This morning however, there was intense speculation that Leahy - who jointly led Westmeath ladies to an All-Ireland intermediate title in 2011 - is to be proposed as Paul Bealin's replacement at tomorrow night's county board meeting in Cusack Park.

Sources say that Leahy's experience, management style and results record, combined with his local knowledge, is likely to win him the recommendation, while other sources suggest that the race is between Leahy and former Coralstown/Kinnegad boss Cooney.

But Mr Sheridan, speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, denied that any decision has been reached, and that all six candidates are in with a shout after impressing at the interview stage.

He said that whichever name emerges from tonight's deliberations will be put to the clubs tomorrow night, and that hopefully, a proposal for the vacant hurling manager's position will be tabled.