GAAAll-Ireland football finalists Kerry and Cork are among the last few counties that have yet to confirm their management teams for the coming year. While Pat O'Shea's reappointment in Kerry is as good as a formality, there is still some doubt about Billy Morgan's position with Cork.

In the meantime, two vacant positions were filled last night, with 32-year-old Waterford footballer Jason Ryan ratified as the new Wexford manager, while Tommy Jordan takes over as Sligo football manager.

O'Shea has, on several occasions, expressed his desire to continue with Kerry for a second year, thus leading them on their quest for a third successive All-Ireland - but that has required some renegotiations with the Munster Council, where O'Shea works as Games Officer.

The Kerry County Board, however, will next meet on November 20th and are expected to ratify O'Shea and his team for another year.

"That would certainly be our hope," explained Kerry county chairman SeáWalsh. "There are still one or two loose ends that need to be tied up with the Munster Council. Our next meeting was actually put back a week, but the priority now is to have Pat O'Shea reappointed at that date."

O'Shea has, in fact, already laid out some pre-season training schedules for groups of the Kerry players, and looks set to be joined for another year by selectors Dr Dave Geaney and Seán Geaney and physical trainer John Sugrue.

Morgan's future with Cork, however, remains unclear. The county board recently revised their management selection policy, setting up a sub-committee to appoint managers and selectors for football teams for the next two years.

The committee comprises of three board members and four from clubs, and is due to make a recommendation for manager, with the county board also reclaiming the power to appoint the selectors.

"Our policy is not to comment on the working of the committee until the job is done," said county press officer Bob Ryan. "All I will say is that work is ongoing, and while it is being done with haste, it's not being done in panic. But our intention is to make an announcement as soon as possible."

Ryan, who is not a member of the committee, added that he "wasn't aware whether or not Morgan was still in the running".

Last month it appeared he was out of the running after receiving a six-month suspension arising from in the All-Ireland final, when he was reported for alleged verbal abusing of Sligo linesman Marty Duffy.

On appeal, that ban was reduced to eight weeks, on the basis that the Central Hearings Committee had quoted the wrong rule when imposing the original suspension.

The appeal, coupled with the county board's delay in making any announcement on a potential replacement, suggests Morgan will now be given a fourth year in charge.

In the meantime, there is a definite move on the vacant Wexford football management position, with surprise candidate Jason Ryan last night ratified as the successor to Paul Bealin. At just 32, and a member of the Waterford football panel, Ryan becomes the youngest county manager in the country.

A PE teacher based in Dungarvan, Ryan recently made his mark on Wexford football when he trained Clongeen to win a first Wexford senior football title, beating several of the more established teams along the way.

Although Clongeen recently lost out to Moorefield in the Leinster championship, Ryan's impact clearly impressed the county board.

Although he wasn't the first choice, with Seán Boylan at one stage rumoured to be in the running, Ryan is expected to start some pre-season training in the coming weeks.

Bealin, his predecessor, has since taken charge of the Carlow senior football team, and left Wexford after reportedly falling out with the county board over when to resume such pre-season training.

The Sligo senior football job was left vacant after Tommy Breheny stepped down several weeks ago, despite leading them to a first Connacht title in 32 years.

Finally, the Down county committee will meet tomorrow evening to ratify former Antrim hurling manager Jim McKernan as their new hurling manager, to succeed Gerald Coulter.