The last football vacancy of the year will be filled this evening when Niall Carew is ratified as the new Waterford senior manager. Carew, who just a few weeks back stepped down as a Kildare football selector, thus takes his first steps into a sole senior managerial role.

A statement issued from the Waterford County Board confirmed his name would be going before this evening’s meeting for ratification, having reportedly agreed terms with Carew just over the weekend.

Carew, from the St Kevin’s club, had worked alongside Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney since 2008, and also acted as county under-21 coach, and having only stepped away in the recent weeks his appointment does come as something of a surprise.

It is expected his backroom team will include former Kildare selector Tony Kelly, with former Kildare physio Noel Mallon also being rumoured to come in as strength and conditioning coach.

John Owens stood down from the position in July and former Wexford manager Jason Ryan was offered the job in the autumn, but turned down the opportunity.