GAA: MULL IT OVER; Legend Brian gets a week to make up his mind on Dublin job.

Byline: Jackie CAHILL

DUBLIN chiefs have given Brian Mullins a week to decide whether or not he wants to take over as the county's new senior football manager.

Mullins is the favourite to take over from Tommy Lyons and his appointment was due to be rubberstamped last night.

But Dublin county board secretary John Costello circulated a release yesterday morning indicating that no definite decision has been reached.

"There will be no decision regarding the appointment of a Dublin senior football manager at the scheduled in- camera meeting of the Dublin County Committee tonight,'' the statement read.

"The preferred candidate has been offered the position and will communicate his final decision to the County Committee next week."

Mirrorsport contacted Mullins in UCD yesterday but the University's Director of Sport refused to reveal his immediate plans.

This delay is the latest twist in the long-running Dublin saga and many supporters, and indeed ex-players, are calling for a conclusion to the issue.

If Mullins is the board's choice, why has he not yet taken the job or been appointed?

There is even speculation that Mullins, a former midfield ace with the county, may deliver a massive snub to the Dublin board - something that could prove catastrophic.

"It's a question that should be answered and the only people that can answer it are the four-man committee appointed to find a new manager,'' said former Dubs ace Paul Curran, a TV analyst with RTE.

''Why has Mullins only been offered the job now after being interviewed a month ago?

"Why hang around? We'll hear the usual stuff from the county board - they're taking their time, they're waiting from a response from Brian.

"They need to grab the bull by the horns and sort this out now," Curran insisted.

"They haven't had a list of people to interview - there's only been the one man in the frame for the last two months.

"What is the delay? Whether or not Brian is the right man for the job now is not the question - why hasn't he been appointed?''

Curran believes that Mullins is the right man to lead Dublin.

"He'll bring something back to Dublin - a little bit of fight back in the team,'' said Curran.

"But if he decides not to come on board, we're back to square one - and way beyond that," he warned.

"If for some reason Brian doesn't want the job, it's going to be a long and drawn-out process.

"Then it's not just a mess, it's a joke and Dublin football will be a laughing stock.

"It's not a situation where eight or ten candidates have been interviewed, it's been whittled down to a final three and then finally decided - just one guy is in the frame.

"All this talk about Mick O'Dwyer and Pete McGrath? That was never going to happen," Curran added.

"We'll have to wait and see what happens but I'd call on Brian to end the speculation and just say yes, or no.

"He's very well respected in the county because of his exploits on the field - he was a marvellous player.

"Whether he's the right man for the job, only time will tell but he would certainly be a good appointment.

"When you talk about potential managers, there's not a lot. You'll have players from the 1995 and 1983 teams and players from the 1970s but Brian would be my choice.

"He'll bring something to the set-up and a lot will depend on who he brings on board," said Curran.

If Mullins does take it on, it's expected that he'll bring former team-mate Tommy Drumm and Na Fianna's Mick Galvin in as selectors.

CAPTION(S):

IN THE RUNNING: Former Dublin footballer Brian Mullins is the county board's choice to take over as senior manager