Donegal job still an attractive one for the right candidate - Michael Murphy

Michael Murphy is confident there will be plenty of qualified interest in the vacant Donegal senior football job but says his name won’t be going into the hat on this occasion. 

The 2012 All-Ireland winning captain only hung up his intercounty boots back in October of last year - a decision that took so many by surprise at the time. However, no one could have envisaged just how turbulent the 2023 campaign would eventually prove to be.

A protracted process to replace Declan Bonner eventually culminated in Paddy Carr taking the managerial reins. But with the former departing towards the end of a disastrous NFL campaign, assistant Aidan O’Rourke stepped into the void. 

But with Armagh man checking out following Donegal’s recent All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final loss to Tyrone, the position is now once again up for grabs. 

Donegal’s affairs off the field are also currently under a very large microscope with the findings of a Croke Park review presented to the clubs within the county at the beginning of June.

The report, compiled by a joint Ulster Council and Croke Park committee, revealed 14 high-risk findings among its observations and recommendations.

It was the high-profile exit of Murphy's former teammate and ex academy head Karl Lacey, widely considered to be performing well in the role, which prompted the report and Croke Park’s involvement.

Taking all of that into account, it’s hard to know who Donegal will turn to to pick up the pieces in regards to the senior footballers’ fortunes. 

A deadline of Friday, July 21, has been set for applications while the board may also choose to identify potential candidates themselves. 

Asked on whether or not managing Donegal is all that attractive a proposition right now, Murphy was adamant that it still is. 

“It’s a tricky one right now,” he admitted. “With everything that’s going on in the background it’s not ideal. But I do believe that if someone really wants the job they’ll go for it. Most of the interaction or certainly eighty to ninety percent of it, for a manager, is still with the players. 

“Yes there will be dialogue that will need to be had with the county board. But for the right person, or the people that really, really want it, that won’t deter them from going for it. 

“The deadline is set. I think that is a positive insofar as we take learnings from last year in terms of it dragging on quite late. I don’t think that helped things. But at the same time it’s crucial we get the right person. 

“And I do believe there is enough hunger and talent in the county, on and off the pitch, to get involved and get things back on track”. 

In regards to his own ambitions of leading Donegal from the sideline in the future, Murphy admits it’s something that he might be interested in at some stage, but much further down the line than right now. 

“In terms of managing Donegal, I’ll do everything in my power along the stepping stones to learn as much as I can. But as of now, there wouldn’t be a chance. I wouldn’t be the right person, right candidate. 

“I’ve been a player in and around that level but that doesn’t mean I can immediately manage at that level. I need to go away and qualify myself and get the necessary experience - be that good, bad or indifferent. 

“Even then, you could well come to the conclusion that you don’t actually enjoy it, managing I mean. Even if that was the case you’d still have to ask yourself are you any good at it? 

“And after that you’d have to look at your life at that time and see have you actually got the time to give it absolutely everything. Because that’s what it takes now at that level”.

Michael Murphy was speaking ahead of Sunday’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor football final between Derry and Monaghan in Armagh.