Could Jim McGuinness be coming back as Donegal senior team manager?

The possible return of Jim McGuinness to the position of Donegal senior team manager is gaining significant traction.

Donegal have been on the lookout for a new manager since their defeat to Tyrone in the preliminary quarter-final of the All-Ireland series in June, when caretaker Aidan O’Rourke stepped away.

O’Rourke had taken charge of the team following the departure of Paddy Carr six games into the Allianz League Division 1 with Donegal all but relegated.

Last month, the Donegal County Board appointed a five-man committee to find a new manager, with 1992 All-Ireland winners Martin McHugh and Anthony Molloy joined by county chairman, Fergus McGee; county secretary, Declan Martin; and Anthony Doogan from Moville GAA club.

McGuinness admitted he was part of a ticket when Donegal were looking to find a replacement for Declan Bonner, who departed in July of last year, with Rory Kavanagh and Karl Lacey. However, Kavanagh withdrew last October opting to stay in charge of St Eunan’s, while Lacey was still head of the Donegal GAA Academy at the time, although would resign earlier this year.

“I knew I would be here until the summer at least,” McGuinness told the Irish Examiners’ Gaelic Football Show podcast in March of this year. “I said I was available to do something with the team or help with the team. Rory and Karl were considering that situation, I was going to go along with them.

“There was a lot of people looking for me to get involved behind the scenes, wondering would I take something on or do something. When that happens, it is difficult. Obviously, your heart and soul is where you are from.”

McGuinness previously took the position in the wake of taking the Donegal U-21’s to the 2010 Ulster championship and All-Ireland final and his four years as senior team boss between 2011 and 2014 brought success.

Donegal won Ulster SFC crowns in 2011, 2012 and 2014, as well as the All-Ireland SFC crown in 2012 and they lost out in the 2014 final.

The Glenties man began working as a performance consultant with Celtic FC in 2012. He worked at Beijing Sinbo Guoan, ending his time in China in January 2018. After a short spell as the head coach of Charlotte Independence, McGuinness returned home. He completed his Uefa Pro Licences in December.

McGuinness was part of the backroom team at Derry City Under-19s, who won the Enda McGuill Cup in 2021 and has been linked to several roles since leaving the Donegal hotseat nine years ago, but was pursuing a career in coaching football.

Now living in Creeslough, McGuinness was part of the St Michael’s management team that won the U-13 Division 2 title last November and was reportedly training Down earlier this year. He works as a GAA columnist for the Irish Times and was a pundit for Sky Sports. The Donegal football championships are due to start tomorrow, Friday, with Glenfin welcoming St Michael’s in the Donegal SFC, with the competitions running until October.