Cribbin looks set to be named as new westmeath manager
It looks like the Westmeath managerial saga could soon come to an end - with strong speculation emerging that former Offaly boss Tom Cribbin is to be named as the county’s new manager.
It is understood that Cribbin – also a former Laois manager - was interviewed by Westmeath County Board's appointments committee last week.
Following Rory Gallagher’s appointment as Donegal manager last Friday night, Westmeath are now the only county in the country without a senior football manager.
The protracted saga has become a source of acute embarrassment, with the county board twice putting forward names for ratification only to see them rejected by club delegates. First, outgoing boss Paul Bealin was turned down and then Peter Leahy suffered the same fate.
Cribbin, a successful businessman who owns a chain of butcher's shops, made great progress with Laois in the years before the Mick O'Dwyer era, guiding the O'Moore men to a Leinster SFC semi-final in 1999, when they were unlucky not to overturn Dublin. Ironically, it was Westmeath who brought his Laois stint to an end, after the Lake County knocked them out of Leinster in 2000.
The Clane man was appointed Offaly manager in February 2009 following the departure of Richie Connor. He stepped down in 2011 after three years in charge of the Faithful County.
At club level, Cribbin won two Kildare SFC titles in four years with Clane as a player-manager, while he also guided Edenderry to the Offaly senior football title in 2001.
He has also managed Kildare's minor footballers, and in recent years, was involved as a selector with the Lilywhites’ U21 side.
After the appointments committee's original choice to replace Bealin, Peter Leahy, was rejected by county board delegates, former Westmeath star and selector Jack Cooney was seen by many observers as the front-runner. However, it appears that stumbling blocks emerged in talks between Cooney and county board officials.
Former St Brigid's manager Noel O'Brien – who led the Kiltoom club to two Connacht titles and an All-Ireland final appearance - has also been linked to the Westmeath post in recent weeks.