Caffrey column: Brennan frontrunner for Dubs job, but is it an attractive post?

Irish Daily Mirror

10 hours ago

A SATURDAY evening after an All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Tyrone and a Na Fianna man quits as Dublin manager.It's not so much that I've seen his movie before, but that I was in it.
I didn't hang around after Tyrone beat us in 2008. I informed my management team and county secretary John Costello straight after the game that I was gone and before gathering the players in the dressing room and telling them.I then went to fulfil my media obligations and quickly made it known, before the question was even asked. I didn't want a post mortem to drag on for two or three days before stepping aside.The previous year, Costello had called to say that he would be proposing me for another two years for me as Dublin manager, having already served three. But he couldn't get it through. They wanted to see out the 2008 season first and then review the situation.At that stage, we had been to two semi-finals and I felt that if we didn't at least get back to that stage and show signs of progression, it wasn't going to be good enough. So this was no spur of the moment call once we were beaten that day. Having not got the fifth year, the writing was on the wall.
If you lose by a last minute point, there can be some solace but when you're comfortably beaten, it makes it fairly clearcut and I'd imagine there was a bit of that for Dessie Farrell last Saturday evening.Mind you, that's where the similarities with his predicament and mine end. His CV towers well above mine and he stands in a very elite group that have won All-Irelands at all grades as a manager. He is third only to Jim Gavin and Kevin Heffernan in terms of Dublin's most successful managers.I was surprised that he stayed on for 2025. I felt he'd go after they lost to Galway last year. He had five years done and retirements were inevitable. Stephen Cluxton staying on was an unexpected bonus but the departures of James McCarthy, Mick Fitzsimons, Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey were predictable.Brian Fenton was the one that came out of left field and perhaps if Dessie knew of it earlier he may have stepped away himself. But we don't know what the discussions were behind the scenes - maybe he was asked to stay an extra year to start the rebuild.It would be typical of Dessie to put his shoulder to the wheel in that respect. It's well known what he's brought to Dublin but his contribution in Na Fianna is immense. He was constantly trying to drive things on and going beyond the call of duty, even when he was in with Dublin.It's a disappointing manner for him to depart, but very few get to go on their own terms.So, what happens next? Ger Brennan is the early favourite but often these things can take a very unpredictable path.When Tommy Lyons stood down in 2004, Brian Mullins seemed a shoo in. He was unbackable, but the talks fell down and suddenly I was approached and given 24 hours to try and come up with a management team before I was swiftly ratified.
You can be sure that Dublin are plotting already but, it has to be said, the job isn't terribly attractive just now. Underage results have been worrying in recent years and the conveyor belt of talent that was there for Gavin and Farrell has slowed considerably.In fact, in the next few years, I don't think we're even going to be at the top table in Leinster. A lot of players have been introduced but it remains to be seen if they're going to be able to piece it together to challenge for major honours.It was a particularly bad weekend as, having not only lost to Tyrone, Kerry are rejuvenated after a spellbinding half of football against Armagh when it appeared that Jack O'Connor might have been running out of road.Then Meath push on again by beating Galway. Louth are already on top in Leinster while Offaly and Kildare's stock is rising too. It could suddenly become a very watchable province in the coming years.Brennan is the most obvious candidate to step into the job given what he's done with Louth and I'd imagine the lure of managing his own county would be strong for him. I'd be amazed if he doesn't get a call, at the very least.Declan Darcy was strongly linked and believed to be the players' choice after Gavin quit but it didn't happen and he's with Leinster rugby now. He may not have any interest at this stage given the departure of so many of the players that he so worked closely with.As I said, sometimes appointment processes can take a dramatic turn and while a Gavin return is a pipe dream for me, I wouldn't rule out Pat Gilroy completely.It's pretty thin after that. There are others who would be credible as part of a management team but maybe don't have enough heft to take on the job themselves.Rest assured, however, that there will be no clandestine talks like those alleged to have taken place between John Bailey and Mick O'Dwyer all those years ago. Whoever it is, Dublin will shop local.