Following a drawn out process, Richard was finally announced as the new Derry Minor Manager

Richard is the leader of a five man team that will replace Niall Conway’s setup. Paul Simpson of Doire Trasna, who is the Urban Games coach in Derry city, will be his assistant manager, with former Limavady boss Declan Toner coming in as a coach / selector. Declan has overseen the Vocational Schools teams for the past few years, having seen the squads resurrected back in 2003 by Richard. That involvement in those squads is one of the reasons why Toner is such an integral part of the backroom staff.

Two more experienced heads, Ballymaguigan’s Seamus McNeill and Brian Smith of Desertmartin, will act in liaison roles with McNeill also involved in the coaching operation.

Richard admits that his backroom team wouldn’t be packed with household names, but that’s not what it’s about. The All-Ireland winner says he believes that county minors should be playing senior football for their clubs. They are all very honest men. They’re good men. I get on well with them, we have a bit of fun, I know them inside out and they know me inside out. I think we are a good team. We mightn’t be an experienced team, but we’re a good team. We’re good together.

Richard will be in charge of the coaching setup, Paul and Declan will be able to deliver the coaching the way I want it delivered. The other two will adopt an advisory manager role. Seamus and Brian are known quite well to Richard, probably better than he knows Paul and Declan because of the over 40’s campaign.

Richard knows that people will be saying “they’re not big name coaches”, but he emphasises they’re very loyal and they’re not afraid of a bit of hard work. We’ll enjoy it.

Richard continues to say ….

His team wants to work with Chris Collins, with the coaching committee and with the county board. We’re not in this to show what managers in the past have done wrong or right. We want to work together. A lot of boys have been supportive of us the past six weeks.

“There are fellows out there in lower divisions who are eligible to play minor football next year – well here is your opportunity guys, come grasp it.”

He wants players to be playing for their clubs. He feels that a county minor should be on their senior club team. Maybe barring a couple of the top clubs, if they’re a county minor then you should be playing senior club football.

Richard is keen to emphasis that the most important element of playing minor football for Derry this year will be that it is fun. The plan is to train just once a week, with the emphasis on moulding the best of the young acorns into the best Oaks. “Our plan maybe not as hard and fast as people will think it is, it’s a wee bit more relaxed.

We have a goal, it’s about the players and they must make up their own minds if they want to be part of this setup for 2009 / 2010. “The players come first.”