NEW Armagh ladies' football manager Ronan Clarke says he is looking forward to bringing a fresh approach to the job.
The 2002 All-Ireland winner with Armagh was ratified by the county board selection team earlier this week in what has been viewed as an exciting move by the county as it looks to build on the foundations for success left by former manager James Daly, which has seen the Orchard county move up through the league ranks from Division Three to One and from intermediate to senior team. This culminated in a first Ulster title since 2007 last year and two consecutive All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final appearances.
It is by no means Clarke's first foray into ladies' football, having taken Mullabrack and facilitated coaching sessions with other teams in recent years, but it is his first real management test and it does not get any bigger than managing your own county team.
“I have been around teams all my life and I have built up a good bit of experience too,” said the Pearse Óg player, who suffered a serious head injury while playing for his club team in August and was in a medically induced coma for a time.
“I watched them closely last year and they have developed into a very strong team. James [Daly] has done great work with them and for me, when the position arose, I was very keen.”
Clarke has hung up his boots, admitting it was hard to find the right balance between playing and coaching, but is now looking forward to the new challenge that lies ahead for himself, former Fermanagh ladies' manager Lisa Woods and his brother Conor, who will be on the sidelines with him.
“I have known Lisa for a long time now and she has good coaching and fitness experience to bring to the team, while Conor is in there for the strength and conditioning side he can bring to it all,” Clarke said.
He is keen to get things in motion and intends to meet up with the players in the coming weeks and operate an open door policy as they prepare to start life in Division One for the 2016 season.
“I will not turn anyone away, the door will always be open and I hope to start off with a 36-person squad and move forward from there," Clarke added.
"There is a lot of experience in the side, but there have also been a lot of new faces introduced too and that has worked well. Armagh have been at the top level before and it is great to be back there and I am looking forward to it - it is going to be interesting.”
