The Irish Independent has reported that Brian Cody is set to take charge of James Stephens for the coming season.
However, the club have confirmed to KCLR that no management team has been put in place for the forthcoming season.
Under a change of the club’s constitution in 2021, a manager and their backroom team must be passed by a management selection committee.
That management selection committee vote on this matter at a separate meeting to the club’s AGM.
See also: Brian Cody returns to management in Kilkenny with the ‘Village’
Rumours were circulating amongst the panel for the last month that the former Kilkenny manager would be cementing his place on the sideline of his home club for the upcoming campaign.
Last season, the 11-time All-Ireland winning manager returned as a selector under Seamus Dwyer as the Village advanced to the county final where they were defeated by Ballyhale Shamrocks .
Brian Cody returns to management in Kilkenny with the ‘Village’ https://t.co/uChLASJ0ak
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) January 6, 2023
Speaking to KCLR ahead of last year’s decider, Dwyer, who was James Stephens manager at the time, welcomed the tutelage of the most successful manager in the history of the GAA.
“It is a big advantage to the club and the team. He has huge experience.
“Brian is a clubman first and a Village man to the core, I am delighted to have him involved.”
It is over a decade since James Stephens have been crowned county champions.
Niall Rigney was the last manager to guide the club to glory in 2011 as they got the better of the Shamrocks in the final.
If he was to be named, it would be Cody’s second term as manager of the Village, having taken control in the mid-90s before taking charge of Kilkenny where guiding them to their first All-Ireland in seven years in 2000.
See also: Derek Lyng speaks to KCLR ahead of his first game in charge of Kilkenny this weekend
The news comes right as Derek Lyng begins his term as Kilkenny senior manager against Offaly this Sunday.
