STEPHEN Barker has emerged as the clear favourite to be appointed to the newly-created role of Head of Operations for Derry GAA, which is likely to result in him stepping down as chairman next week.
Former chair John Keenan has been nominated for the chair at Monday night’s convention and is in line to take over if there is progress on the GAA’s process of filling the new position.
Applications for the full-time role, which is effectively a CEO position, closed on November 22.
In his annual report, county secretary Sean Keane noted that the county executive “will announce the appointment of a full-time Head of Operations in the coming days”.
Moneymore man Barker, who has currently served two of the standard five-year term as chairman, is believed to be in pole position.
It would usurp the role of chairman at head of the county’s boardroom structure and while the appointment process was originally expected to run until the early part of next year, that timeline is understood to have been sped up in recent weeks.
Croke Park are believed to be keen on creating a similar role in all 32 counties.
Castledawson native Keenan served a past five-year term as chairman between 2010 and 2014, and has remained on the county board as one of the county’s Ulster Council delegates in recent years.
Although it seems almost certain that he will be returned to the chair next week, it’s believed he would not run against Barker and will only stand in the event of the current chairman withdrawing his name.
To some surprise, current vice-chairman and All-Ireland winner Kieran McKeever has not been nominated for the chair.
Current Steelstown manager Hugh McGrath will stand for the position of Coaching Officer against incumbent Bobby Farren.
If he doesn’t retake the chairman’s role, John Keenan is expected to remain as an Ulster Council delegate alongside Kieran McKeever.
None of the other positions will be contested.
In his annual report, secretary Sean Keane also confirmed that Derry had enlisted marketing consultants Teneo to seek sponsorship and that announcements “will be made soon” on naming rights for both Celtic Park and Owenbeg.
