NEW MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCED

Former Tyrone footballer Jimmy McCloughan has been appointed Manager of the Tyrone senior ladies team as the county attempt to re-establish themselves as a force in the ladies game. Fintona man McCloughan was actually appointed last Monday night and had already indicated his intentions to host trials from this Sunday.

Speaking after his appointment was made public, McCloughan who has helped guide the county vocational schools side to several Ulster and All Ireland titles, outlined his intentions for the side

“ There is an abundance of footballing talent in the county and I feel its now the time to harness this and get Tyrone back on track, its not going to be an overnight job but we are starting from scratch, a clean slate for everyone and reputations will most definitely be on the back burner”

McCloughan has confirmed his backroom team and has indicated he will be bringing in a specialist fitness coach once the initial national league squad is selected ahead of Christmas. He admitted it’s vital to get the ball rolling,

“ We will look at what the county has to offer in the next three weeks, I expect to look at over one hundred players at our trials to be held in Cookstown and Omagh , it will be our aim then to finalise a squad that is capable of doing well in the league campaign”

Outlining the plans for “ a new era in Tyrone football” Jimmy pointed out that it will be a committed Tyrone team that will compete under him and the new regime.

“ From the outset it will be a very committed outfit, there will be no place for complacency everyone of the squad at the trials and beyond will be playing for their places, the ability is there now its time to nurture and develop it and produce some silverware”

County chairperson Ann Marie Meehan was happy to confirm Mr McCloughan as the new manager of the Tyrone senior squad and hoped that his new approach would rejuvenate the side,

“ We were very pleased with the response to all the advertised posts and thank everyone for taking the time to attend our interviews, we were however very impressed with Jimmy McCloughan, he has a firmly fixed objective and it certainly matches what we as a county board have in mind, His record is quite superb and I hope that we have just some of that success in the coming years”

Its believed the term of the role is three years with a review after two, but the chairperson was adamant that there was a need for stability and time for the new manager to build his own Tyrone team.

The first of the trials go ahead on Sunday, Mc Cloughan says he can’t wait,

“ I am really looking forward to these trials, I think it will give any player capable of playing senior football for Tyrone a real chance to step up to the plate.it’s the start of a long road that I honestly feel will lead to an All Ireland title”

Two other positions have been filled, at Under 14 level, long term development officer Paddy Donnelly has once again took the reigns and will be assisted by former U14 coach Martina Clackin, while in the minor management hotseat comes Dungannon stalwart Martina Dillon.

Acclaimed as one of the best coaches in the country Dillon takes over from the work-committed Ciaran Woods and the unavailable Michaela O’Neill as she attempts to go one better than the 2006 management team and secure an Ulster final berth. Unlucky the side was in the quarter final but on the plus side the bulk of that squad are all available again. Trials for the under 18 squad though will also be conducted in the coming weeks.

Senior manager Jimmy McCloughan will also be lending a hand with the minor squad, a move welcomed by the county board,

“We feel that there will be quite a crossover of players between minor and senior squads , this move will make things easier for training and cut down on any risk of player burn-out,”