Paul Grimley is the new assistant manager with Monaghan!

[Bainisteoir]

Monaghan!! :eek:

Grimley was favourite to take the reins in the Orchard County after quitting as assistant to Kieran McGeeney at Kildare.

His surprise appointment came just hours after Seamus McEnaney decided to remain as Farney manager.

Well done County Board........Another fine mess up!!!

[noddy09]

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Just when you think the Armagh board can not mess up anymore,they pull out another classic"Laurel and Hardy" moment and let Paul Grimley slip through our fingers for a 2nd time

Unless they have Geezer up their sleeves which I doubtthey have failed again at the highest level and it looks like we can look forward till 2 matches again next summer

Someone must let us know why we failed to get PG again

We are a laughing stock again not least in Monaghan

Well done County Board:clap::clap::clap:

[pearse og lad]

Gutted! Really am lost for words.

[Bainisteoir]

Grimley shuts door on Armagh Gaelic Games
By Paddy Tierney
Irish News


PAUL Grimley has all but ruled himself out of ever becoming the Armagh football manager following the shock announcement that he is to be the new assistant manager of Monaghan.
Grimley stepped down from his role as Kieran McGeeney’s number two with Kildare last week and was heavily fancied to succeed Peter McDonnell.

However, he feels he has made the right call and believes he will not be linked with the Armagh job in the future. “Well my name and the Armagh job apparently don’t go well together,” he said. “The saying is you never say never, but favourites don’t always win races and that’s certainly been the case this time. I doubt very much now that my name will ever be attached to the job again.”

The Pearse Og clubman was also the favourite for the position back in 2007 when Joe Kernan stepped down, but was beaten to the job by McDonnell. Grimley had recently stated that he was not willing to go through the same selection process as two years ago. “I wish Armagh all the best, but to be honest about it I think it is the best decision for me and for Armagh that I am not involved with it,” he said.

“There has been too much baggage attached over the last three years. “I feel that, for my own well being and piece of mind, it’s better that I am not involved with Armagh.” Nominations for the vacant manager’s job closed last Friday and the five-man committee tasked with finding the next Orchard boss met last night to discuss the candidates.

Grimley is thought to have secured the bulk of the nominations and says he is grateful of the support from the various Armagh clubs. “I was aware that a lot of clubs had nominated me,” he added. “Of that I am deeply appreciative, and I would like to thank all the clubs for their support, and indeed the Armagh supporters.

“But the bottom line is that things just didn’t work out.” The former Armagh assistant boss also revealed that he would have left Kildare regardless of whether or not the Armagh job was available, stating that the demands of travelling to Kildare had taken its toll. “I was making the trip three or four times a week. It takes eight or nine hours out of your day, so you can imagine the demands.

“The fact that the Armagh job was available was coincidental and at no stage was I offered the Armagh job.” Kieran McGeeney and Grimley led Kildare to this year’s Leinster final, losing out to Dublin. They bounced back with a win over Wicklow before bowing out of the Championship to Ulster champions Tyrone in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Grimley paid a glowing tribute to Lilywhites boss Kieran McGeeney and thinks ‘Geezer’ has what it takes to be one of the game’s great mangers. “He is the most genuine, honest and straight-up person I have come across,” he said.

“I loved my two years with Kildare. They were good lads to work with and a good county board, everything straight up. “My friendship with Kieran will continue for years to come and I wish him and Kildare all the best and I believe Kieran will go on to be the best manager Ireland has ever seen.” While Monaghan’s new management team will be the envy of many counties, the future for Armagh seems uncertain.

With Joe Kernan, Kieran McGeeney, Brian McAlinden and now Grimley all ruling themselves out of contention, speculation will now focus on who the Armagh County Board can attract to the job. Former Orchard defender Justin McNulty is the only man to formerly declare interest in the position, but the names of the candidates who have been nominated will not be known until tonight.