For more than a decade, Paul Conway was a mainstay of the Westmeath football team before injury forced him to retire in 2005. Now he's back in a new role of team selector and is eagerly looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. Paul Conway always had it in his mind to get into team management some time in the future, but he never expected it to happen so soon. A text message from Tomas O Flatharta last October led to the ex-county star accepting a new role as Westmeath football selector. He was joined by former county hurler Eamonn Gallagher, who last year steered Raharney to their first senior hurling championship success since 1994 and also guided Killucan to a surprise semi-final appearance in the senior football championship. The Tang clubman, whose inter-county playing career was ended by injury in 2005, was initially reluctant to take the job, but soon realised that it was an offer he simply couldn't refuse. "Tomas can be very persuasive and he doesn't take 'no' for an answer," he jokingly remarks. "About three months before Christmas, Tomas left a message on my mobile saying that he wanted to talk to me. I phoned him back and was taken aback when he asked me if I'd be interested in becoming a selector. Paddy Collins and Frank Mescall were stepping down and he wanted some new men in. "I always got on with Tomas, but I still needed to think long and hard about it. After all, I had no experience in management and was only getting used to having more time to myself (after retiring from playing). Despite me wanting to give more time to my club, they were very keen that I took the job so I decided to give it a go. "And while it's still very early days, I have no regrets about my decision. I would probably be still playing for Westmeath if it wasn't for injury, and my time away made me realise how much I missed the whole scene," the 32-year-old adds. Having also been contacted by O Flatharta prior to last July's All-Ireland qualifier win over Galway about the possibility of him returning to training, Conway was full sure the Kerryman wanted him aboard in a playing capacity this year. "When I got the text that was the first thing that came into my head," he says. "Coming up to the Galway game last year, Tomas tried to get me back playing. The injuries weren't giving me any problems and I must say the prospect of playing Galway and Dublin after that in front of a full house at Croke Park was very appealing. But I said at the time that I'd leave it - the lads on the panel had trained hard all year and they deserved to play in those games more than me. "I had just got my tonsils out when Tomas got back to me again, but as it transpired he had a different job in mind for me." Paul is clearly enjoying his new role which, in contrast to playing, doesn't involve busting a gut on mucky training pitches in the depths of winter. However, he admits to having underestimated the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. "I've seen a different side to it since I became a selector. When you're playing, you're aware of some of the jobs that the backroom staff does, but really you don't see the half of it. There's an awful lot of work done behind the scenes that goes unnoticed. People like Jimmy Marshall (kit man) put in an unbelievable effort." As someone who has played with most of the current Westmeath squad, Conway is very much aware of each player's strengths and weaknesses. However, this unique position also has a downside as he explains. "Being a former player, you can sometimes find yourself in an awkward position. You know the lads so well that you don't want to disappoint anyone when you're picking the team. But when you're in this position, you have to rule with your head and not your heart. "I think every player realises that the management's primary job is to do what's best for Westmeath. Both Ollie Keating and Jack Cooney (who made a similar transition from player to selector) did it for years and it wasn't any great problem to them." Paul welcomes the addition of new players to the Westmeath squad as well as the return of some familiar faces. "We've brought in a number of new players and only time will tell if they're up to it or not. It's important to keep the panel fresh - you can't have a situation where lads are sure of their places. It's also important to have the same backbone and thankfully most, if not all, of last year's team is still there. "We're delighted that both Flan (Martin Flanagan) and Fergal Wilson have decided to come back. I played with Flan for about 10 years and I know how good he is. And Fergal is feeling refreshed after taking a break last year." Conway acknowledges that Westmeath have become too reliant on Dessie Dolan in attack and is hoping that others will be able to step up to the mark in the coming season. "There is no doubt that the team was over-dependant on Dessie last year. When he didn't perform like we know he can against Dublin, the same scoring threat wasn't there. "Other players have to share the scoring burden if we're to be successful this year. The likes of Denis Glennon and John Connellan are well able to score, while Flan and Wilson should also be a help in this regard." According to Paul, Westmeath's objectives for 2007 are to achieve a top-four finish in Division 1B and to get back into the Leinster final. "The first thing we have to make sure of is that we don't get relegated. And if at all possible, we should be aiming to finish in the top-four which would guarantee us a place in Division 1 when the leagues are restructured next year. "We have a very difficult championship opener against Longford down in Pearse Park, but I'm convinced it's game we can win. If we get over them, we'll be playing Laois in Tullamore and we would be aiming for a Leinster final spot at that stage. I'd love to meet someone like Dublin in the Leinster final and let them know we mean business this year. But a lot of games would have to be won for that to happen. "I think we have the makings of a very good team. I wouldn't have gone back (to the Westmeath set-up) if I didn't believe the potential was there," he adds. One of the most versatile players the county has ever produced, Conway made his senior debut in 1994 and played under five different managers - Mattie Kerrigan, Barney Rock, Brendan Lowry, Luke Dempsey and Paidi O Se. He was centre forward on the team that won the Leinster championship in 2004, scoring the insurance point in the memorable quarter-final victory over Dublin that year. A player who had more than his fair share of injury problems down the years, Paul retired from the inter-county scene after sustaining a broken arm in the 2005 All-Ireland qualifier against Tipperary. The affable plasterer makes no secret of his desire to manage teams in the future, and reckons his selector's role with Westmeath will stand him in good stead in that regard. "I helped Christy Flanagan with the training in Tang last year, and I'm enjoying working alongside Tomas (O Flatharta) and Eamonn (Gallagher) at present. For anyone wanting to go into management, it's great experience." Tweet

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