Cloud of negativity hanging over Donegal has to be lifted - John Gildea

John Gildea says Donegal supporters need to get behind the team right now and not let the side distraction of the Academy row have any kind of influence on that. 

A gloomy air continues to hang over the county with that saga taking a new twist this week with the county board finally breaking its silence on the matter (see sidebar). 

Gildea tasted his own fair share of disappointments in the green and gold of Donegal. And he says there is a definite correlation between matters on and off the field when results perhaps aren't going the side’s way. 

He understands that supporters are frustrated and indeed angry with the boardroom fallout that resulted in Karl Lacey tendering his resignation as Academy Head of Development. But, he adds,  the show must go on. 

“I definitely do think there is an element of that,” he said. “Generally what happens when your senior team is going well, no one sees the other cracks. Negativity has always bred negativity in that sense. That’s what is happening right now. 

“We’ve had a series of events that have dragged a negative cloud over matters. And it’s all doom and gloom. On the crest of a wave, no one looks too closely at the other stuff. But when you have what we have right now on and off the pitch, everyone is suddenly in the firing line. 

“It is messy - there is no doubt about that. The rights and wrongs of it, who knows. It’s very easy to attack the county board and blame them for everything. But because it’s so vague, with no one really saying anything that definitive, it’s open to all types of interpretations. 

“That’s how you get divides. But none of that should have any kind of influence on getting behind our senior team. And I don’t think it is. I think most supporters know and understand that the same effort that the 2012 guys put in is still being put in. 

“The same sacrifices are being made. It’s very easy to be critical sitting in the stand but believe me no one in that set-up will be taking any shortcuts. Yes, we’re in a bit of a lul right now but that shouldn’t be directed at lads giving their lives to play for their county. 

“There are some people out there that still don’t get that. It’s a minority but you hear it. It was the same under Declan Bonner. Everyone can jump on the bandwagon when it’s going great. But the mark of a true supporter is to show up and be heard when things maybe aren’t so great”. 

Gildea says there was a marked improvement in Donegal last weekend when they shared the spoils with Galway in Letterkenny. Still, he insists this is very much a team now in transition. And because of that, expectations are going to have to be tapered accordingly. 

“Given the way we performed against Tyrone and Monaghan, where we basically capitulated in the last period of the game, Galway was an improvement. Because there was a stage in Letterkenny when it looked like the game was going to once again run away from us. 

“So the fact that they knuckled down and kicked back against that, it was definitely a positive. Given the backdrop of the previous two games, I think there was an improvement”. 

He added: “We’ve come through a generation really where we’ve been at the top table for what, the past 12 to 13 years? So many of these lads involved right now have little to no exposure to that outside of perhaps going to those games with their parents. 

“So there will be mistakes made along the way in what is a real rebuilding process. A certain degree of latitude has to be given to that. We’ve been so spoiled in the last decade and a bit. 

“But we need to get real. We’ve probably been on the decline for quite some time - even in Declan’s tenure that was the case. We’ve had a number of exceptional footballers that perhaps masked that tailing off. 

“But we’re at a point now where it might feel very sudden for some. And that is breeding a lot of negativity. We need to really get behind this side now, allow them to develop and mature without that real cutthroat judgement. 

“Paddy Carr and his management team are looking to play a different brand of football as well. That’s a transition in itself that won’t happen overnight”. 

Given the way Armagh supporters get behind their team, Gildea labels the Athletic Grounds as one of the toughest places to currently go to in Gaelic football. And Donegal will have to be quickest out of the blocks on Saturday if they’re to get a result. 

“There is a changing of the guard in Ulster. The big three for so long were Donegal, Tyrone and Monaghan. Armagh and Derry look like they are now out in front. Armagh are a confidence side. If things are going their way and the crowd behind them, they really feed off that. 

“I think we have to look to take the game to them right away - put them on the back foot. If we allow them to get a foothold early on up there, it could turn out to be a very long evening”.