There IS a vacancy for one of the top positions in Dublin club football after Brian Mullins stepped down as manager of St Vincent’s after two years in charge.
The 64-year-old stepped down as St Vincent’s senior football coach a little over a year after guiding the Marino side to a Dublin Senior Championship title.
Vincent’s were also crowned AFL Division 1 champions last month after seeing off Ballyboden St Enda’s in the final.
Mullins stepped into the breach following the surprise resignation of Tommy Conroy in the aftermath of their All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Slaughtneil in February 2017.
The former Vincent’s player steadied the ship and helped the Diarmuid Connolly-led side to retain their Dublin championship with a win over Ballymun Kickhams.
They then crashed out of the Leinster Championship after suffering a shock defeat to the unfancied Rathnew of Wicklow.
2018 saw Vincent’s top their championship group and defeat Castleknock in the quarter-finals, but they were heavily beaten by St Jude’s in the final four and relinquished their county crown.
The loss of star Connolly to a sabbatical in the United States didn’t help the club’s cause, and his second-half introduction against Jude’s had little effect as they were outbattled 2-11 to 0-8.
“St Vincent’s GAA wishes to announce that Brian Mullins has stepped down as manager of our senior football panel,” reads a statement issued by the club.
“Over the last two years, Brian and his management team have delivered a county championship and division one league title, and we would like to thank them for their unstinting hard work and commitment during this time.
“Naomh Uinsionn acknowledge the massive contribution that Brian has made to the club over the decades and we look forward to his continued contribution to other aspects of life at the club.”
Mullins, a former school principal and now director of sport for UCD, won nine Leinster Championships and four All-Irelands with Dublin during the 1970s and 80s.
His remarkable haul could have been greater still had he not been involved in a serious car crash in 1980 that threatened a premature end to his career, and kept him out of the game for two years.
Mullins used the opportunity to complete his master’s degree in athletics administration in the United States and returned in time for the 1983 season to pick up his fourth All-Ireland medal.
He was similarly decorated at club level as he secured five Dublin Championships, three Leinster Championships and one All-Ireland before leaving the panel in 1991.
After retiring from intercounty football in 1985, Mullins spent time as caretaker manager of Dublin but lasted less than a year as the Dubs were defeated by unfancied Meath in the Leinster final.
The Vincent’s statement concludes: “The club is now undertaking the challenge of appointing a new senior football management team.
“Members who are interested in the role are invited to contact Niall Lanigan, the club’s Adult Games Director ([email protected]), or any member of the club executive with their expressions of interest.
