Ross and Skibb keep options open in managerial searches

TWO of West Cork’s biggest football clubs are keeping their options open as they search for new senior managers.

Both 2016 SFC champions Carbery Rangers and O’Donovan Rossa are in the process of trying to fill their respective hot-seats ahead of the 2018 campaign.

Maurice Moore and Shane Crowley have stepped down as joint-managers of Carbery Rangers after one season together at the helm.

The backroom team of Eamon Murphy, Liam Creedon, Sean Hayes and Denis McSweeney have also stepped down, so Ross are on the look out for an entire new management team.

Carbery Rangers chairman Mick Connelly says the club is exploring all avenues as they look to appoint a successor to the Moore and Crowley combination.

‘I’m in no position to say anything right now except that we are keeping our options open,’ Connelly said.

‘We have our club AGM on Thursday next week, November 30th, and if we have any news or updates on the search we will bring it to that. If not, we’ll keep searching to make sure we get the right person for this job.’

Connelly adds that Ross have not closed the door on appointing an outside manager, stressing that the club is exploring all options.

Ross relinquished their Cork SFC title after a semi-final loss to the Barr’s while they were defeated by neighbours Clonakilty in a Kelleher Shield semi-final last Friday night.

Meanwhile, O’Donovan Rossa and Ned English have parted ways after a disappointing season for the Skibbereen outfit.

Skibb struggled badly in the championship, losing to Nemo Rangers and Clyda Rovers before also being defeated by Clonakilty in a recent SFC relegation play-off. They finished mid-table in the Kelleher Shield.

‘It was a mutual decision,’ club chairman John Carmody explained, ‘Ned left on his own accord.’

Skibb will form a committee tasked with finding English’s replacement and while they haven’t ruled out appointing an outside manager again, their initial preference, and immediate priority, will be to appoint from within the club. 

Skibb also insist that they will not pay any manager to come in, a stance that the club has always felt very strongly on and that won’t change.