BILLY MORGAN HAS ruled himself out of the running to become Cork senior football manager for a third time but has pinpointed former All-Ireland winner Danny Culloty as a potential new boss.
Cork are currently on the lookout for a new manager after Conor Counihan stepped down in the wake of the All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Dublin earlier this month.
John Cleary, Ephie Fitzgerald, Brian Cuthbert and Ronan McCarthy have all been mentioned as contenders.
Morgan took charge of Cork between 1986 and 1996 before returning to be at the helm between 2003 and 2007. But he will not being coming back for a third stint in the role.
“Not a chance. The commitment is too much. I did my stint. I am quite happy what I am doing now, coaching UCC for the Sigerson, which is a very short season.I am doing that again this year and I am enjoying it.”
Culloty, who was born in San Francisco, won All-Ireland medals with Cork in 1989 and 1990 while at local level he guided his club Newmarket to the Cork premier intermediate football title in 2011.
“I have heard Danny Culloty’s name mentioned and I think he would be a good choice. When I have been speaking to him over the last couple of years I always thought he had good ideas about football.
“He is a pleasant type, he would get on well with players. His man-management skill I think would be good.”
Danny Culloty in action for Cork in 1996
Morgan insisted he was not proposing one managerial candidate over another.
“John Cleary, in my opinion, it is his to refuse. I was speaking to him after he retired from the U21 job and I kind of half slagged him that the next job is the senior job. But I believe he has said no.
“I am not plugging anyone here or anything because Brian Cuthbert is probably in pole position and Brian is a good lad as well. He is very interested in coaching
“I don’t know what Ephie’s chances are. He has a good record with Nemo, then he went to Limerick, spent a year with them and then was with the Cork minors for the last two years.
“The only thing that might tell against him is that there is a Nemo man gone in as U21 manager and they mightn’t have two Nemo people.”
Former Cork manager Conor Counihan
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Morgan indicated his preference for Cork to not go for an outside manager and he praised the outgoing boss Counihan.
“A lot of people try to say underachieved, but if any other county had that record in six years with an All-Ireland and four leagues, it is a fair record.
“As Conor himself said, he felt it was time for a new voice in the dressing-room and it was totally up to himself. It was a decision he made.”
