Tailteann Cup-winning Westmeath manager Jack Cooney has announced his surprise intention to depart the role after being appointed as the GAA's National Player Development Lead by Croke Park.
Cooney (51), who served four years as manager of his native county after being appointed in the autumn of 2018, said the area of player development was one in which he held an academic interest and that he was eager to work in the area on a full-time basis.
"The player development area is one in which I have invested a lot of time academically in the past few years, and this is the opportunity for me to work in the area in a full-time capacity," he said in a statement issued by Westmeath GAA.
"I have had an extremely enjoyable spell involved in inter-county football, commencing as a selector with Westmeath almost 20 years ago, the highlight of that period being the annexing of the first Leinster title, under the leadership of the great Páidí Ó Sé.
"Since becoming manager of my native county, I have worked with a fantastic bunch of players, whose commitment to playing and preparation at this level is second to none; they certainly deserved the success they achieved this year when we overcame Cavan in the first-ever Tailteann Cup final."
Westmeath GAA chair Frank Mescall confirmed the search for a new manager had begun and paid tribute to Cooney: "We are extremely disappointed to lose Jack Cooney as county team manager but are very proud he is taking up this prestigious role with the GAA at national level.
"Jack's commitment to Westmeath football has been magnificent throughout his career, from the time when he wore the maroon himself, through his period as a selector in the mid-noughties, and his time as senior manager for the past four years, culminating in our annexing of the Tailteann Cup this year."
Cooney managed Westmeath for four seasons in total, guiding them to the Division 3 title in his debut campaign in 2019. They were subsequently relegated in the abbreviated league campaign of 2021, narrowly missing out on promotion back to the second tier earlier this autumn.
This, however, laid the ground for trophy success later this summer, Westmeath sweeping to victory in the first-ever Tailteann Cup, overcoming Cavan by four points in the Croke Park decider.
The win guaranteed Westmeath's presence in the Sam Maguire competition in 2023, regardless of league or Leinster championship performance next year.
Previously an inter-county player with Westmeath, making his senior debut as a teenager 1988, Cooney was a selector alongside Páidí Ó Sé when the county won its first ever provincial title in 2004.
