Flanagan ratified as manager for a further two years

There were no surprises at meetings of Westmeath's football and county boards at Cusack Park tonight (Wednesday September 5), as incumbent senior and U21 football manager Pat Flanagan was ratified for 2013, writes Paul Hughes.Flanagan will stay at the helm for another two years, with his tenure subject to review at the end of next year.The Clara native was the only name proposed at the football board meeting, with chairman Liam Gavin giving details of the outcome of interviews conducted on Monday night.Flanagan, as well as other nominees - Maryland manager Finbar Egan and former Leitrim boss Dessie Dolan Snr - went before an interview committee, composed of Westmeath county board chairman and secretary, Tom Farrell and Pat Lynagh; football board chairman and secretary, Liam Gavin and Gerry Coyne, and clubs' representative, Aiden McGuire (The Downs).Mr Gavin said that their recommendation of Flanagan came after "long deliberation", and he thanked the three candidates for the "professional manner" in which they approached the process.Flanagan's return was expected, and his ratification was proposed by Gerry Sheridan of Tyrrellspass - the club managed by Flanagan before he took over Westmeath - and P O Keenan of Rosemount.But the meeting did not pass without some dissent.St Loman's, Mullingar delegate Ken Eades called for a vote to be held, "in the interest of democracy"."We've been given a recommendation, and clubs should be allowed to vote on it," he said.But Ballymore's John Cunningham - also the football board's delegate to the county board - said that it was his understanding that the five-man committee had already been given a mandate by the clubs to carry out interviews and make a final recommendation."There's no point in having a vote," Mr Cunningham remarked.Mr Gavin agreed, and when he asked if there were any objections to the recommendation, none were forthcoming. He then asked if the clubs wished to propose an alternative to Mr Flanagan; Loughnavalley's Christy Keenan - who initially proffered the name of Dessie Dolan Snr - then stated his intention to object to Flanagan's ratification, but he failed to get the backing of a seconder.Mr Gavin made a final call for a counter-proposal, but there was silence. "I deem Pat Flanagan elected," he said. "We wish him the best of luck for next year."We should head for Division 1, and hopefully a Leinster final, and I don't see why we can't."The extension of Flanagan's tenure was rubber-stamped by the county board meeting which followed."We wish Pat very well," said county board chairman, Tom Farrell. "Westmeath football seems to be on a crest again, and we look forward to success during 2013."