RUMOURS linking Pete McGrath with a switch to Antrim were swiftly put to bed when he was reappointed by Fermanagh on Wednesday.
The Rostrevor native, twice an All-Ireland winner with Down, was expected to walk away after four seasons in the Erne dugout. But he feels he has unfinished business with Fermanagh and hopes for better in 2018 after 2017 brought relegation to Division Three and two one-sided Championship defeats for his injury-ravaged side.
McGrath said he was looking forward to “something more productive next year” after the Fermanagh county board wasted no time in extending his tenure by another season.
“One of the reasons I like to get this type of thing sorted out is that it ends any speculation,” said McGrath.
“If this hadn’t been sorted out for another three or four weeks there would have been speculation – I’m not saying there would have been counties all lining up to sign me up, that’s not the case - but there would have been speculation about potential vacancies and that has all been put to bed.
“The decision is taken and it’s a good one for everyone. Hopefully we can put this season behind us and look forward to something more productive next year.”
He added: “I met with the chairman and the secretary and then the county executive met.
“They knew that I was very keen to go again and that the management team were keen to go ahead.”
McGrath will recommend his backroom team for next season to the county committee in a fortnight’s time. There will definitely be at least one change after Brian Treacy stepped down and McGrath hopes to add a new member who will bring “a freshness” to his management team.
“Brian was with us for three years,” he explained.
“He’s principal of a primary school which is a demanding job, so the fella simply couldn’t give the full commitment that he knows is needed.
“We’ll meet next week and we’ll look at it and we’ll see if we can get someone in who will add to it and give it a freshness. That would be the idea if the right man’s out there.”
The return of Enniskillen Gaels midfielder Richard O’Callaghan for next season is a timely boost for Fermanagh’s prospects.
McGrath said: “He’s coming back around Christmas time which would be great for us.
“He’s playing football over in Australia and keeping himself in good shape so if he’s back that would be a big plus for us going forward into 2018.”
However, he will be without goalkeeper Chris Snow, who has confirmed that he is taking a break from the inter-county scene next season.
“Chris definitely won’t be with us for a year or two,” said McGrath.
“When Chris came back he had to make a big sacrifice in terms of his home life and he said to me: ‘If I come back Pete it’ll just be for this year’ and that season is now over.
“I knew he was going and I have absolutely no problem with it because he kept us in the loop all the way through. He’s an excellent ’keeper and he has an excellent attitude and he’ll be missed.
“But he’s still relatively young, he’s only 28 so he is taking time out rather than officially retiring.”
Meanwhile, Enniskillen Gaels veteran Ryan McCluskey hasn't confirmed whether he will return for the 2018 season.
The 36-year-old has soldiered on since making his debut in 2003 and McGrath said: “I don’t know what Ryan’s intentions are.
“I haven’t spoken to him. The match we lost against Armagh is still relatively recent so I don’t know what he intends to do. He’s been around for quite a while and I’ll let him think his own situation through, he knows what’s best for him and I don’t want to interfere.
“Whatever will be, will be and we’ll have to wait and see.”
