Newton set for green light as new Roscommon boss

DES Newton will be officially ratified as Roscommon's new senior football manager at a county board meeting tomorrow night (Thursday). It's understood the former county defender, a brother of ex-midfielder John Newton, will commute from Dublin for training and matches after being offered the position. He succeeds Roscommon's 2010 Connacht SFC winning manager Fergal O'Donnell, whose decision to step down last month, after two years at the helm, came as a major surprise to Roscommon followers. A school principal based in west Dublin, Newton has been involved with Kilmacud Crokes in recent years, and served as a selector under manager Paddy Carr this year. He also has experience of working with development squads in Donegal (where he was previously based). A Roscommon County Board spokesperson said the county board will release an official statement in relation to the senior manager's job over the coming days, with confirmation of Newton's backroom staff expected to be included in the statement. Meanwhile, former Roscommon forward Nigel Dineen will also be installed as Roscommon's new under-21 football boss in succession to Jimmy Gacquin. Dineen, who was one of the top forwards for the Rossies throughout the 1990s, and the Castlerea man was a selector with the team when they won the Connacht title for the first time in 11 years last year. The committee appointed to select the U21 manager, which included former county great Tony McManus and ex-Roscommon manager Martin McDermott, will recommend to the County Executive that Dineen be appointed to the position. It's expected that Dineen will be supported by a three-strong selection team including Clann na nGael's Denis Gavin and Basil Mannion of St Brigid's. Kilbride's Eddie Lohan is also expected to be part of the management set-up. Subject to approval, the names of both Newton and Dineen will be put before clubs for ratification at Thursday's County Board meeting, and no hiccups are expected in either case.