Mayo native Mike Solan will step into the Longford hotseat while former Tipperary goalkeeper Philly Ryan is taking over his native Premier.
Both men will go forward for ratification by their respective county boards on three-year terms, with Solan filling the role vacated by Paddy Christie while Ryan will succeed another Dubliner, Paul Kelly.
Solan is a former All-Ireland U-21 manager with Mayo in 2016 and subsequently worked as assistant to fellow Ballaghaderreen man Andy Moran in Leitrim for two years (2022-23).
Meanwhile, Ryan is a former Tipperary minor boss and has been strongly linked with the senior vacancy for several weeks. Both teams will be operating in Division 4 next season.
Following the conclusion of interviews, Solan was recommended to the Longford management committee as a meeting last night, and he will now be proposed to club delegates on a three-year term.
A Longford GAA statement added: “Mike’s management team will be announced in the coming weeks. Longford GAA chairperson Albert Cooney welcomed the management committee’s recommendation of Mike Solan and his management team and expressed the hope that all clubs, members, supporters and players will give their full support to the new management team.”
On the same evening, a meeting of the Tipperary football committee unanimously recommended Ryan, who will now be proposed to a full county committee meeting for three years with a review after two.
The Clonmel Commercials clubman was Tipp’s first choice ‘keeper from 1990 to 2003, skippering the team on several occasions including in his debut season and again in ‘95 when Tipperary claimed the All-Ireland senior ‘B’ title.
Clonmel Commercials selector Philly Ryan consoles Michael Quinlivan last year after their side’s defeat in the Munster SFC Club semi-final against Dingle.
Following his retirement, he was a Tipp U-21 selector in 2005 and then managed the county minors in ’07 and ’08.
The incoming manager has promised to implement a direct, attacking game plan as the Premier seek to rebound from a poor 2024, one that saw them finish sixth in NFL Division 4, beaten by Waterford in Munster and eliminated by Limerick as the last-12 round of the Tailteann Cup.
“We will try to carry the game to the opposition rather than defending deep, waiting for turnover and trying to play counter-attacking football. We will be progressive and aggressive,” he declared.
Ryan continued: “My philosophy has always been that football is all about the players. Players will judge me on how much I care as well as how much I know.
“The team is the star, so every individual player and management member will have to leave their ego at the door. I subscribe to the old saying: ‘It’s amazing what can be achieved when nobody cares who gets the credit’.”
His management team will include Paul Cahill (Grangemockler Ballyneale) and Cathal Naughton (JK Brackens) as coach/selectors, with further members to be finalised in the coming weeks.
