McGuinness ratified as Donegal end search for new boss

DONEGAL ended their routine search for a new manager when Jim McGuinness was ratified by the clubs of the county at the monthly sitting of county convention in Ballybofey last night.

McGuinness, a substitute in the 1992 All-Ireland final win over Dublin, will now work as bothsenior and U21 manager concurrently having taken the latter to the All-Ireland final this year where they lost to Dublin at Breffni Park in Cavan. After meeting with the executive on Friday for two hours, McGuinness outlined his plans and was then offered a four-year contract with a two-year review after he was unanimously voted in by the clubs after being proposed by county chairman PJ McGowan.

“I will be having my first trial on Friday and am under no illusions as to the size of this job,” McGuinness told the meeting last night.

“It’s a big job, but I want theplayers to come in and give nothing but 100%.

“That’s the minimum requirement but I’m looking forward to getting down to it right away.”

McGuinness will be joined in the senior set-up with three men who are already part of his backroom team: Peter McGinley, Maxi Curran and Pat Shovlion.

And although McGuinness did stress that Michael McMenamin will come in to help with logistics, there is likely to be one more backroom team member brought in.

Donegal were beaten by Downafter extra-time in the Ulster championship quarter-final before losing heavily to Armagh in thefirst round qualifiers in Crossmaglen.

In the aftermath of that depressing result manager John Joe Dohertytendered his resignation.

The smooth appointment of McGuinness is in stark contrast to that of Doherty two years ago, when he was offered the job before the offer was reneged in favour of a joint-ticket of Declan Bonner and Charlie Mulgrew.

It was Doherty who was initially offered a job and when he went in front of the clubs for ratification; he ultimately came through by 27 votes to 19.