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Donegal manager and Celtic performance consultant Jim McGuinness. INPHO/James Crombie

Donegal chiefs give Jim McGuinness time to consider future as county boss

The All-Ireland winning boss has asked for space before making the call.

IN THE WAKE of their exit from this year’s All-Ireland SFC, the Donegal County Board insist they’ll give Jim McGuinness all the time he needs to make a decision about his future.

The defending champions were dumped out of the race for Sam by a rampant Mayo side at Croke Park on Sunday.

“We’d be naturally keen to hold onto Jim, his assistant Rory Gallagher, the backroom team and all of the players,” says county board chairman Sean Dunnion.

“They’ve brought unbelievable success to the county and we would be hopeful they will stay on. At the minute, though, we’d like to give them space for a few weeks. Jim said in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s game against Mayo that he, the backroom team and the panel will hold their own appraisal of the season. We will give them time to do that and will then sit down with him whenever he is ready.”

McGuinness, of course, works on Neil Lennon’s staff as a performance consultant for Celtic FC and his wife is currently expecting twins.

“When Jim was initially appointed in 2010 he asked for a four-year term and he’s now three years into that term,” adds Dunnion. “We appreciate his situation with twins on the way and work in Scotland but we will sit down and discuss matters.”

The official also insisted the players who ended the county’s 20-year wait for an All-Ireland title, will regroup next season.  Rumours that Frank McGlynn had decided to call it a day are said to be unfounded while Colm McFadden says he’ll be back too.

“I think there’s plenty of football in me and there’s plenty of football in the whole squad,” he said. “We’ll have to regroup over the winter and try and come back stronger.”

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