FORMER manager Tony Mansfield has backed Michael Ryan’s imminent appointment as Waterford’s new senior hurling team boss.

Mansfield was the last Waterford native to manage the county team, in the mid-1990s, prior to Ryan’s nomination by Déise top brass.

Mansfield reflected: “Once adopted by the county board, any new manager should be supported . . . I think it’s a good thing to have someone from inside the county. In fairness to Michael Ryan, he went for it last year and had the ambition to go for it.”

Ryan has assembled an impressive looking backroom team, comprising of highly-rated physical trainer Pat Flanagan, former selector Nicky Cashin and respected coach Brother Philip Ryan, who was involved in Davy Fitzgerald’s 2011 set-up.

Ryan guided De La Salle to county and Munster SHC club glory in 2010. He served as selector alongside Justin McCarthy when Waterford won the 2007 National League and Munster senior hurling championships.

In 2000 Ryan led Waterford U-21 footballers to a shock win over Kerry in the Munster championship. He also masterminded five All-Ireland successes for Waterford ladies footballers.

Ryan and his backroom team are expected to be officially ratified at a specially convened county board meeting next Monday evening.