Rory Gallagher close to a new coaching role

Gallagher was set to becoming Naas’ new head coach last month but is now close to taking up another position.

Former Derry manager Rory Gallagher. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Rory Gallagher is close to taking up a new coaching role with Down senior football champions Kilcoo.

Sources close to the club say the former Derry, Donegal and Fermanagh manager is in line to join its senior set-up after Karl Lacey stepped aside as manager last month after two years in charge.

Gallagher was set to becoming Naas’ new head coach last month before an intervention by GAA president Jarlath Burns convinced the Kildare club to withdraw from the proposed agreement.

Burns wrote to the club asking them to give careful consideration to a decision that would “reverberate far beyond your immediate community" and transmit a "message about the values we uphold and the standards we set for our members and supporters".

In 2023, Gallagher stepped down as Derry manager prior to the Ulster final following allegations of domestic abuse made against him by his estranged wife Nicola. Gallagher has been investigated by authorities in the north of Ireland but was never charged. He denies the allegations.

The Belleek man was later temporarily debarred by the Ulster Council, a decision which Gallagher successfully contested in front of the Disputes Resolution Authority 12 months ago.

Gallagher, who coaches Monaghan club Corduff and is expected to do so in 2025, had threatened legal action against Burns, demanding he retract his correspondence to Naas. Through legal representatives, he described Burns’ action as “unprecedented move in an effort to sabotage my potential appointment”.

Speaking on “The Late, Late Show” last month, Burns said he would not be withdrawing his comments in the email. “I don’t bear any ill-will against anybody. I hope he doesn’t (take legal proceedings) but I can’t retract anything I said in a private email to a club, and I don’t say that with any sense of ebullience or determination or ‘bring it on’.”