DONEGAL MANAGER JIM MCGUINNESS has denied that his future with the 2012 All-Ireland winners has been settled.
McGuinness is on the panel of the BBC’s Championship programme, which is covering the Tyrone versus Mayo All-Ireland semi-final. He was asked to comment on his future with Donegal and confirmed that no decision on him remaining in the post had been reached. He added that the situation was “undecided”.
Asked if he had stated his desire to see out the final year of his contract, McGuinness responded, “There’s no truth in that. I have not given my intentions to anybody.”
The 40-year-old is expected to increase his youth coaching duties with Glasgow Celtic and is seeking assurances from the county board on unspecified ‘structures and conditions’ before he commits to another year.
Former Donegal player Martin McHugh, who is a regular panelist on the BBC GAA show, urged McGuinness to stay on with the county. Tellingly, McGuinness later commented, “I don’t want to be there just for the sake of being there.”
On Saturday, a Donegal GAA spokesperson poured cold water on Raidió na Gaeltachta reports that suggested McGuinness would see out the final year of his contract. The spokesperson told TheScore.ie they could neither ‘confirm or deny’ the speculation.
McGuinness met with the team and the Executive Committee on Saturday but an official announcement on the future of the manager and his coaching staff is not expected until the first week of September.
