O'Rourke leaves Roscommon in the lurch

​Aidan O'Rourke made an unexpected u-turn on Tuesday night with regards to taking the Roscommon senior football manager's job, despite being the county board's preferred choice for the role. 

The former Armagh star was due to succeed Kevin McStay. It is understood that he was interviewed by the Rossies' selection committee but, before a county delegates meeting on Monday night, which was due to take place to ratify his appointment, he asked for a 24-hour deferral.  

According to a statement from Roscommon bosses, the requested delay was put down to "unexpected doubts" over Karl Lacey's availability to be O’Rourke’s head coach. 

Former Irish rugby fitness coach, Mike McGurn, was also speculated to be a part of O'Rourke's proposed backroom team. The Rossies must now look elsewhere, as O'Rourke informed the county board that he was pulling out of the running. 

"The committee is concerned at attempts made to influence the outcome of the process," explained the statement, adding: "These events have undermined the integrity of the process and potentially affected our ability to attract a new manager.” 

It is expected that Anthony Rainbow, the only remaining option, who has declared an interest, will be offered the position shortly. Despite the grassroot GAA supporters wanting a Roscommon-man such as Mixer Ryan or Boyle’s David Casey to get the job, the county’s GAA bosses seem determined to go to greener pastures to find a replacement for McStay. However, in what seems to be a last minute turn of events, Niall Carew may be back in the mix. Having previously ruled himself out of the running, the former Sligo senior football manager is understood to have been been approached to re-enter the fold.