McGuinness meets players, but no decision yet on next season

Reports of Jim McGuinness remaining in charge of the Donegal senior footballers for next season are premature, according to sources within the county.

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta have reported that McGuinness will see out the final season of his four-year term with Donegal, following a meeting yesterday with the players, who gave him their full backing, and a subsequent sit-down with County Board officials.

McGuinness met up with his 2013 panel at the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny yesterday morning, while he was joined by goalkeeping coach Pat Shovelin and video analyst Maxi Curran later in the day for a meeting with County Board chairman Sean Dunnion, secretary Aodh Mairtín O Fearraigh and treasurer Grace Boyle.

But that was only the start of his season's review and there is nothing set in stone just yet. Further discussions with the County Board are scheduled to take place as both parties will want to iron out certain matters before any official announcement is made.

The 2013 campaign was a largely disappointing one for McGuinness' charges as they were relegated from Division 1 of the Allianz League and relinquished their grip on both the Ulster and All-Ireland titles, bowing out of this summer's Championship with a hugely deflating 16-point defeat to Mayo.

Today McGuinness is booked to appear on BBC Northern Ireland's TV coverage of the All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Tyrone and Mayo, although it is unlikely he will be questioned about his managerial future live on air.

According to the Donegal News, the process of review and dialogue with Donegal officials will last into next month with none of the management - McGuinness' assistant Rory Gallagher is currently on holiday - expected to attend the upcoming County Board meeting on Monday week (September 2).

The board are due to meet again in early October when McGuinness, who was appointed to the position in July 2010, is expected to make an address to those present.

McGuinness has a particularly busy work and family life at present. He is employed as a performance consultant with Celtic Football Club in Glasgow and his wife Yvonne is expecting twins, adding to the three young children the couple already have.

It was evident after the Mayo game that he would take his time to consider his immediate future with Donegal. Speaking at the time he explained: "We've to look at ourselves and what could we have done better in terms of the whole season and this game.

"Once all that process is done, we'll know a lot more about the situation. Any decisions of any nature will only be made after the appraisal has been completed."