Paul Taylor is set to become Sligo’s new senior football team manager.
Sligo GAA confirmed on Thursday night that Taylor is the preferred choice of the selection committee and his name will be recommended for ratification at next Monday’s meeting of the Sligo County Board.
Hailing from the Eastern Harps club, Taylor played for Sligo for 14 seasons from 1993 to 2007 and won six senior county titles with his club. He was arguably the county’s most prolific forward during the 1990s.
As a manager, he was in charge of the Sligo Under 21 team which, last year, pushed a talented Galway side to extra-time in a memorable Connacht final at Markievicz Park.
He has some experience of the senior managerial set-up, having worked as a selector under Kevin Walsh in 2009 and 2010.
Taylor’s ambition isn’t confined to the football field. In recent years, he has developed a considerable profile in local politics, having been elected as a Fianna Fáil Councillor in 2014. He is currently Leas-Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council.
While the exact composition of Taylor’s management team has still to be finalised, Sligo GAA has confirmed that it will include Mayo’s Joe Keane, who has been part of the Mayo senior football backroom team for the past two seasons. Keane is also a former All-Ireland club championship winner with Crossmolina and was coach to the All-Ireland winning Mayo Under 21 side in 2016.
Provided his appointment is ratified by the County Board next Monday, Taylor’s first competitive game in charge will be next January when Sligo play Roscommon in a Connacht FBD League semi-final.
