The news yesterday that Paul Caffrey, one of his selectors, is now taking over as manager, and that Dave Billings is staying on as a selector, means there will be probably even more continuity than even Lyons could have expected, writes Ian O'Riordan

Yet his reaction to the choice of the Dublin management committee was clear. Caffrey is an ideal man for the job.

"I'm delighted to hear he's getting it," said Lyons, who did still seem a little surprised at the choice. "I'm thrilled for Paul and I know he's a very good man for the job. And I'm genuinely glad for the man because I know him very well and he deserves it. I've a lot of time for him.

"I certainly enjoyed the three years working with him, and would definitely wish him the very best. Hopefully he'll have the real success as Dublin manager that I didn't have."

When he walked away from the position, Lyons made it clear that he was leaving it open to the county board to allow one or more members of the current management team to take over. Initially it seemed that wasn't going to be the case, but the collapse of the Brian Mullins appointment means half of the previous management team are now back for more.

Lyons believes that can be a good thing: "Of course Paul already has an excellent knowledge of the game, and club football in Dublin. But he's also had a good three years working with the players so he'll know them all very well, and that has to be an advantage.

"But I fully expect that he'll have a different set of players than I did. He'll take another good look at them and bring in the ones he wants and leave out the ones he doesn't.

"And, like any new management, I expect him to put his own imprint on the team. So I expect Paul Caffrey will do things his own way, totally different to the way Tommy Lyons did it."