Coulter: Burns' successor needs a 'clear plan'
July 15, 2018
Down manager Eamonn Burns.
©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.
Benny Coulter says the new Down manager's objectives for 2019 should be to gain promotion from Division 3 of the Allianz League and to ensure the best players in the county are involved.
The search for the Mourne County's new boss is underway after Eamonn Burns stepped down after three years in charge earlier this month.
"The now vacant Down manager's job is up for grabs and whoever takes it needs to ensure that within three years Down are back playing in Division 1 of the National League and to do that they have to get the best players in Down playing for them," Coulter wrote in his Newry Democrat column.
"There are about 10 players that have opted out for whatever reason, they can only say, but for the good of Down football they must now make themselves available for Down.
"For example, Gerard McGovern, Dan Gordon, Conaill McGovern, Jerome Johnston, Darryl Brannigan, Ryan Brady, Kevin McClorey, Aaron Brannigan, Danny Savage, Barry Og O'Hagen and Jonathan Connelly are all lads I have seen in Division 1 this year who are good enough for the Down panel, and I would urge them all to make themselves available to whoever comes in to manage Down.
"There needs to be a clear plan and an aim for Down to be competing for Ulster titles every year and an aim of getting into the Super 8, but to do that you need to be playing at a high level and the immediate aim for the new manager is to get promoted from Division 3 at the first time of asking. And for all that to be achieved, Down need the best 35 players in Down football playing for them."
