Donegal manager Paddy Carr clarifies appointments

Donegal team manager Paddy Carr has responded to reports that two of his backroom team were part of the interview panel that selected him as county team manager in October. 

The Gaeil Fhanada clubman took over from departed team boss Declan Bonner, who resigned in July. 

Media reports stated that both Michael McGeehin and Dr Ken van Someren, who had been part of the three-man interview panel who interviewed Carr for the post, are now part of his backroom team. Recently departed county chairman Mick McGrath was the third member of that committee. 

McGeehin is Sport Ireland's Director of Coaching and has worked with various county teams down the years and Dr van Someren, a lecturer at ATU with over 25 years' experience working with high-performing sportsmen and women across the globe has a role also. 

“We are actually doing our best to do the best for Donegal,” Carr told DonegalLive. “The media should give us a little bit of understanding and a little bit of encouragement. The facts are that Michael McGeehin is appointed by the County Board as a Liasion Officer with us. 

“It is a county board appointment, so it is not the backroom team as such. That was only ratified the other evening at a county board meeting 

“As Liaison Officer it invariably involves logistics with the squad, what we can do for matches etc and the things that we will need from time to time.  There has to be a link person with the county board and that is Michael’s role. So, while he will be dealing with the squad it is an appointment from the county board”. 

In response to the article stating that Donegal GAA did not comment on reports that two of Carr’s backroom team were on the panel who interviewed him, chairman Fergus McGee has stated that the reason he could not comment was that he is not due to meet with Carr until next week. 

In relation to the second member of the interview panel, Dr van Someren, Carr said the latter was vastly experienced, although his role is not full-time.

“It is only an advisory consultancy role, and he would not have any involvement in the back- room team in terms of day-to-day activity,” Carr added. “We can go to someone like him and say this the way we are doing things, and do you have any suggestions or opinions as you can understand managing a county team, a backroom team and what goes on the football field is quite a task”. 

Carr feels that the fact both men were on the selection committee is not something that should be worried about.

“To be honest that was neither my business nor my concern what the county board want to do in terms of who they wanted to appoint,” he said. “We spoke to  Dr Ken van Someren if he would be open to advising us from time to time and it is only a consultancy and no day- to-day involvement with the county team”.