Buccaneers appoint Culliton as new coach

Buccaneers have this week announced that former long-serving Wanderers player Neal Culliton will be the club's new head coach for the coming season. Culliton, whose father Jerry won many caps for Ireland in the '60s, is expected to be assisted by Colm Rigney and Leighton Christopher, and replaces the joint-managerial partnership of Tony Dolan and Jude Lennon, a locally based pairing who led Buccaneers to promotion from the AIB League Division 2 in their first season in charge, before also helping the Athlone club retain Division 1 status last season. Culliton has experience of coaching at CYM Terenure, Mullingar, Longford and also Cistercian College, Roscrea. The new coach was due to meet the majority of last season's squad this week but said new arrivals at the club are unlikely. "It remains to be seen whether we can bring in any new faces but, to be honest, the time for doing that is probably gone at this stage," Culliton said. "I certainly know some of the players from last season's squad but Colm (Rigney) has a better feel for them at this stage. I think the main priority at this stage is to try retain as many of last season's senior squad as possible and also look to promote several of the club's under-20 players. I see the addition of Colm (Rigney) as a major bonus. He will probably prove our best signing for his ability as a player and coach," Culliton added. This season the top flight of Irish club rugby is split into two different sections, with Buccaneers taking part in Division 1B having finished in the bottom eight of Division 1 last season. A couple of teams will be promoted from the eight-team Division 1B but Culliton is not putting too great an emphasis on this at the moment. "It's very difficult for me to be specific with aims and targets when I've yet to meet the players and see how they feel. Obviously you aim to win every competition you enter and you always want to get into a winning habit. It would be nice to think the players are eyeing promotion from Division 1B. I also want to do well in the Connacht Senior Cup and the AIB Cup. Every competition we enter will be treated seriously and with respect," said Culliton. Meanwhile, a Buccaneers club spokesperson this week acknowledged the contribution of Tony Dolan and Jude Lennon to the club. "The club acknowledges their immense contributions to date and wishes them continued success in their future coaching assignments," the spokesperson said.