Peter Leahy has dismissed Liam McHale's claim that he had not agreed to be part of his proposed backroom team with the Westmeath footballers.

Leahy's name was put forward for ratification by the selection committee at last night's county board meeting, but delegates voted 24-19 against his appointment. It was explained to the floor that Leahy would have McHale as his coach and Tommy Kelly (The Downs) and Micheal Reynolds (Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall) as his selectors.

But the former Mayo star today denied that he had been part of the Leahy ticket and revealed that Westmeath chairman Sean Sheridan had apologised to him.

However, in a statement issued to Midlands 103 this afternoon, Leahy has claimed that McHale had "backtracked" on the eve of last night's meeting and had done so "for personal reasons". The Mullingar man also refuted suggestions that he had misled delegates by including McHale in his management package.

The statement in full reads: "Due to inaccuracies being reported in the media and on social media sites today I find it necessary to state the facts. At the time of my proposal on Tuesday 7th October all members of my backroom team were confirmed.

"It is true that one member of the management backtracked on Wednesday evening (at a meeting to confirm finer details) saying he'd 'confirm for definite within 24 hours'. I am very disappointed that this person has decided today to distance himself, after our ratification was unsuccessful.

"It is obviously done for personal reasons. I one hundred percent stand by my proposed management team and did not try to mislead any delegates or county board officials.

"Primarily I'm a Westmeath supporter and the management team I put forward was for the betterment of Westmeath football. I have no doubts that if I had got the three extra votes necessary to confirm my ratification that all of my management team (including the high-profile coach) would have done a fantastic job for Westmeath. I wish the county board and incoming management team all the best for 2015 and hope Westmeath can achieve their potential."

Meanwhile, it is believed that Westmeath GAA will call a special county board meeting on Wednesday week, October 22 in a fresh bid to have a new manager in place for the following Sunday's county SFC final.

Former county star Jack Cooney, who was one of the five unsuccessful candidates interviewed last week, is favourite to land the job, but clubs are entitled to nominate new candidates,

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