Search for Derry manager goes on as Muldoon proposal shelved

Former manager Rory Gallagher was also suggested as a coaching option despite Derry publicly ruling out reappointing him in September

Enda Muldoon during his tenure as Derry selector

A proposal to recommend Enda Muldoon as the new Derry manager and Rory Gallagher as a coach has been reportedly been shelved.

The only football senior set-up yet to appoint a manager for 2025, Division 1 champions Derry have been without one since July 8 when Mickey Harte stepped down in charge.

Despite support among some officers, Derry had publicly ruled out reappointing Gallagher after he had signalled to them in September that he was available. Gallagher’s former selector Muldoon taking over with the Fermanagh native as coach had been suggested but “The Irish News” have stated that arrangement is now off the table.

Gallagher stepped down as manager prior to last year’s Ulster SFC final win over Armagh following allegations of domestic abuse made against him by his estranged wife Nicola. His assistant Ciarán Meenagh took over but later stepped down and was replaced by Harte.

A temporary barring order made against Gallagher by the Ulster Council was overruled following an application by the former Donegal coach to the Disputes Resolution Authority in February and he has been coaching Monaghan club Corduff.

The Derry executive met on Thursday night to discuss their options as the wait to appoint a manager extended beyond 120 days. The executive’s failure to provide a successor has been described as “unfortunate” by Derry’s 1993 All-Ireland winner Fergal McCusker.

He told “The Puke Football Podcast”: “The fact that it hasn’t been sorted, it just must be very, very frustrating for those players, because they really are at the pinnacle of their career, they have been used to really high level management, and high quality management, for the last two or three years.” Derry open the defence of the Allianz Division 1 title away to Tyrone at the end of January. In April, they face Donegal in an Ulster preliminary round clash, which is expected to be played in Ballybofey. Several coaches such as Malachy O’Rourke, Conleith Gilligan and Karl Lacey have been linked with replacing Harte.

Meanwhile, Carlow’s all-time top scorer Darragh Foley has retired from inter-county football. The Kilbride clubman soldiered for 15 years in the county colours and played under four different managers, and retires as the county's highest ever scorer.

In a statement issued by his club, Foley said: “For 15 years I have lived out my dream of playing senior football for Carlow GAAA. The time has come for me to step aside and let someone else live out that dream.

“I wish Shane Curran and the lads all the best for the future and I look forward to supporting the lads along the way. I have had 15 years with no medals to show for, but memories and friendships made that trump any silverware.”