Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald believes that his new selector Donal Og Cusack will have a huge influence on the Banner County next season.
Fitzgerald made the surprise announcement in late October that his former goalkeeping rival was coming on board with the 2013 All-Ireland winners.
The pair of former All Stars and All-Ireland winners had a spiky relationship on the pitch, but now they will be working closely together.
“As soon as you're beaten, the next two or three weeks, you're thinking 'What can you do differently?' We won an All-Ireland two years ago and the last year or two has been really tough,” admitted Fitzgerald, speaking on Saturday night on RTE One's The Ray D'Arcy Show.
“You're thinking 'What can I do to change it up?' I suppose it's my job as manager to put the best backroom that I can together and maybe change things up a small bit.
“You draw up a list in your head. I'll be honest, he was nearly top of that list,” continued the Clare boss, who believes that Cusack has ambitions of managing his native Cork in the future.
“I've watched him analysing stuff on The Sunday Game and he's really good. So what the hell, I said I'd pick up the phone and ring him.
“We met up and we had an incredible chat. It took off from there.
“I think Donal will add to it. He thinks things out. I think when he talks - the big thing is, he's been there and he's done that," said Fitzgerald.
“He has a serious vision of what he wants to do. I think when he talks, the lads will listen and that's a big part of it.”
Clare beat Cork in the 2013 All-Ireland final, but they have struggled since with their ’14 and ’15 seasons both ending prematurely
