Peter Keane’s decision to step down as Clare manager on Sunday guarantees that the number of new managers that will be on the sideline for the start of the 2026 Allianz Football League has moved into double figures – a trend that has become increasingly regular.
It’s now the fourth season in a row that 10-plus new managers have stepped on to the beat. Monday evening saw Dermot McCabe being confirmed as new Cavan manager, an appointment that now sees Westmeath on the lookout for someone new, while Andy Moran, subject to ratification, is poised to take the reins in Mayo.
There is still a question mark in Kerry, where Jack O’Connor, albeit unconvincingly, hinted that his time may be at an end after winning yet another Sam Maguire with the Kingdom.
There were five new management teams in 2021, but that jumped to 10 the following season, a massive 14 in 2023, 10 in 2024 and 11.5 last year – if we include Mickey Harte’s addition in Offaly to an already-in-place Declan Kelly as a half point.
For next season, Derry, Dublin, Louth and Sligo have already joined Mayo and Cavan in making the change while Clare, Antrim, Roscommon and Waterford are still on the hunt, with Westmeath now added to that list.
The days of long-serving managers may not be truly over – Kieran McGeeney is set to embark on a 12th season as Armagh boss – but that really feels like the exception to the rule in the modern game.
Sean Boylan’s 23 years in charge of Meath lives in GAA infamy while Mickey Harte chalked up 18 years as Tyrone manager, but in a sign of the new environment, the latter has now been in charge of three other counties (Louth, Derry and Offaly) in just five seasons.
The ‘whys’ are plentiful, the most oft cited reason by departing managers tending to be “increasing work commitments” in their exit statements.
That was the case for Keane in his weekend departure as he stated: “A combination of factors are influencing my decision, namely growing business demands, plus travel and time challenges.”
It remains unclear whether the Munster Council’s decision to seed their provincial championship based on AFL positions – a call that has riled a quartet of counties – played a part in the Kerry man’s call.
Player power has reared its head in this off-season too while for some, like Tony McEntee at Sligo, the project just comes to a natural conclusion – although he is hoping to extend his stay in Connacht having been linked heavily with the vacant Mayo position.
Leitrim manager Steven Poacher is preparing for his second season in charge out west with the Connacht outfit and, for him, the increasing stresses of the game are the root cause for most switches.
“I was talking to a manager there after one of our Tailteann Cup games and he said he’s never experienced pressure like it,” Poacher told RTÉ Sport.
“He said even the media responsibilities, we’re not media trained but you have a national broadcaster sticking a microphone in your face right after a match.
“There’s a whole new level of scrutiny as well now with social media, every empty vessel can make a noise now.
“It’s a hugely, hugely pressurised situation, it really is, and I’d say a lot of it is down to that.”
Perhaps going against the perceived belief that struggling teams change it up more often, the turnover rate between Division 1 and 4 hasn’t been as stark as some might expect.
Since that double-digit run of change began in 2022, the top tier has had nine new management teams and the bottom division 10.
In 2025, Division 1 will have at least three fresh faces – Dublin, Mayo and Roscommon – one in Division 2 – and currently two in Division 4.
Commitment levels seem extreme no matter where you are positioned in the food chain.
Speaking in the Gaelic Life recently, former Cavan boss Mattie McGleenan gave an insight into why it’s becoming more a short-term stint.
“The average backroom team these days is about 20 to 25 people. You have to manage two teams, you’ve a backroom team to coordinate, and a football team to coordinate. It’s clearly a full-time operation.
“The old saying goes that the pressure is a privilege, but it can only be a privilege if you actually have the time.
“I’m a teacher and when I was over Cavan, I’d leave school around 4.30pm and be back around midnight – and that was on a good night.”
Poacher also reiterated that point, and the Down native understands why the management game at inter-county level has a shorter life-span.
“People don’t actually understand the actual complexity of putting together a management team as well as a playing squad, so you’re actually managing two groups,” he said.
“Our backroom team is pretty small but we still have 15 people in it, a whole range of people, and then the players on top of that.
“You’re also dealing with the county board on a regular basis and a lot of it is actually managing the situation rather than coaching the team and that’s where you need a really strong coaching group around you to share the load.”
With those pressures not going to subside any time soon, the managerial churn and burn looks unlikely to slow down.
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