Swim Ireland has deferred its decision on the appointment of a national coach pending response to its plans for the position to be filled full time.
The Irish Swimming Association believe that the appointment of a full-time national coach is central to "our goals and aspirations".
Such a key post would presumedly be subject to the availability of funding by the National Sports Council.
A pool of established home-based coaches from which the eventual choice is likely to be made, assuming, of course, that a coach from outside Ireland is not imported for the job, will carry out the national coaching duties prior to the appointment.
The final decision is expected to coincide with the opening of the country's first competitive 50-metre pool in Limerick in the New Year.
"A full time coach would bring our association into line with most countries worldwide and is an essential part of our goals and aspirations," says Swim Ireland PRO Clare Mulholland.
Yet to be finalised, however, are the compositions of groups of competitors for the European short course championships in Valencia and the British equivalent in Sheffield. Chantal Gibney, university tied in the US, will not be available and fellow Olympian Andrew Bree is expected to be another absentee.
The British tests start on December 7th to 10th leaving a four-day gap before the Europeans get under way on December 14th. British based Emma Robinson (University of Bath) and Julie Douglas (Loughborough College), Ireland's fastest 50 metre freestyler, could be named for both events.
Michael Williams of Ards and Andrew Reid (Larne) are also in contention along with Graham Beegan of Cormorant and Lee Kelleher of Cork but, there is a doubt about the availability of Olympian Trinity student Colin Lowth.
