Kevin McStay will be interviewed for the vacant Roscommon job next Monday - and could be announced as the county’s new manager by the end of next week.
The Mayo native is believed to be the only candidate to be interviewed for the position, although this was not confirmed by the county board when contacted by The Irish Times on Monday.
The RTE pundit will be interviewed by a committee made up of members of the county board executive as well as some external members, all of whom are from within the county.
Plans have been in place since the vacancy arose to have a new manager in place by the end of September - and after Monday’s interview(s) a county board meeting is likely to be organised before the week is out, when an outright decision will be made.
McStay led Roscommon club St Brigid’s to the club All-Ireland title two years ago, along with his right-hand man Liam McHale.
The Ballina Stephenites corner forward was an All Star with Mayo in 1985, but has been based in Roscommon town for a number of years now - where he managed the local club Roscommon Gaels to a county title in 2004. He also previously managed the Roscommon minor footballers.
The understanding is that if McStay progresses past the interview process, as expected, and his name is put forward to the clubs he will be comfortably voted in.
Outgoing manager Johnny Evans stepped down last month claiming that there were a number of people within the county campaigning to the clubs to vote him out, with a replacement already lined up. He subsequently opted to step down from his post.
While the Kerry man was popular among the current squad, many of which voiced their discontent with his exit on social media - McStay’s appointment is the preferred choice of a number of the players to step in, impressed by the professional approach his management team implemented with St Brigid’s.
McStay though would have to step down from his RTE responsibilities if he were to be Roscommon’s new manager (for as long as Roscommon remain in the championship) - meaning last Sunday could well have been his last time on the Sunday Game.
Next year Roscommon will compete in Division One of the league after securing promotion and winning the Division Two title last April, although they fell to disappointing championship defeats against both Sligo and Fermanagh.
