McGuinness could be ratified by Monday night
Things in Donegal football seldom evolve in a simplistic manner but unless there's an unheralded complication Jim McGuinness should be named county senior manager on Monday night next.
McGuinness will meet with officers from the County Executive to outline his plans later this week and should all things run as expected the current U-21 manager may go before the clubs of the county for ratification at the next sitting of county committee meeting on Monday evening next.
Donegal have been on the look-out for a new manager since John Joe Doherty resigned last month after his side's tame loss to Armagh in Crossmaglen in the All-Ireland football first round qualifiers and after advertising the position over the last three weeks; McGuinness was the one interested applicant.
The Naomh Conaill clubman is unlikely to face any unruly moments from the clubs as a consequence of his taking of the U-21 side to the All-Ireland final this year, where they lost narrowly to Dublin at Breffni Park.
McGuinness has also got to know the county executive - whose three main officers are chairman PJ McGowan, secretary Aodh Martin O'Fearraigh and treasurer Grace Boyle - over the last year since his stint with the U-21s began and after his ratification, he plans to juggle both managerial roles.
Peter McGinley, Maxi Curran and Pat Shovlin will be forming his backroom team with both sides, while there is a possibility that another selector as well as someone who can look after logistics will come in with the seniors in due course.
"At the minute, I've a few things that have to be discussed with the county executive and we will adhere to the managers' charter," McGuinness said yesterday. "From my time with the U-21 panel, the county board have been extremely supportive and helped me prepare the lads in any way that I asked them, so I don't envisage too many problems when I will get the chance to sit down and talk to them in the coming days. Then, of course, there's the ratification process."
McGuinness was highly critical of the then county board's involvement in the previous interview process for the post two years ago, claiming at the time that he "didn't get the light of day" in the fudged-up process that eventually led to Doherty getting the job ahead of the joint-ticket of Charlie Mulgrew and Declan Bonner, while McGuinness, Francie Martin and Michael Houston were barely considered.
"I was upset about that at the time, but the real turning point for me was when I decided to put my hat in the ring for the U-21 job last year," McGuinness continued. "I had a few heart-to-hearts with people and spoke to Martin McHugh at length and eventually decided to give it a go. Looking back now, I'm glad that I did.
"I really enjoyed the season with the U-21 panel this year and there's some great players and great people in that set-up. We’re losing a couple of our bigger names now with the likes of Michael Murphy, Leo McLoone, Kevin Mulhern and Paddy McGrath being overage next year, but although we had relative success, it was something that I wanted to give two or three years to.
“Twenty of those 35 lads are underage again next year so lots of them have got the experience of playing in an All-Ireland final and I’m looking forward to working with them.
“If all goes well and I’m ratified with the senior job, I’d like to get talking to the senior players as soon as possible. There’s a lot of time and effort that needs to be put in and strength and conditioning is something that needs to be worked on immediately, while we can focus on the other stuff then.
“It’s a long-term plan, but the prerequisite is that every player who wants to play for Donegal has the hunger and pride and is willing to give the commitment in games and in training and preparation. We want to get this right.”
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Weather for Donegal
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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