Molloy: McGuinness is a 'man who will take us forward and on to better things'

Donegal’s 1992 All-Ireland winning captain Anthony Molloy has said the appointment of Jim McGuinness as senior team manager “will take us forward and take us on to better things.”

Molloy, along with county chairman, Fergus McGee; secretary Declan Martin; Anthony Doogan and Martin McHugh formed the committee were tasked with finding the best person to lead Donegal football into the future.

The name of McGuinness, who was not in attendance at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy and is understood to be out of the country, was put before club delegates at a meeting of county committee on Monday night. The news broke shortly before 8pm he would return as Donegal manager. McGuinness got a three-year term with an option of a fourth, and has Neil McGee, Colm McFadden and Luke Barrett already named on his backroom team.

He's back: McGuinness is Donegal manager again with backroom team announced

Jim McGuinness is back in charge of Donegal's senior footballers following a meeting of Donegal County Committee. " Donegal GAA have said: "This is an exciting time for all Donegal GAA Supporters and Donegal people at home and abroad"

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.

Molloy said it was an “honour” to be part of the process and recalled when McGuinness was a teenager coming onto the Donegal panel for the first time in 1992.

“Jim wrote his own history by taking Sam home to Donegal once again,” he said of the Glenties native spearheading Donegal to their second All-Ireland 20 years later.

“There’s no doubt that this will be a work in progress but that Jim has been here before and he can deliver for Donegal,” Molloy said. “We as a county board, as delegates and as supporters give Jim our full support going forward.

“Jim has a huge profile which will gather interest all around and this is a massive evening for CLG Dhún na nGall. Thanks to Jim’s wife, Yvonne, and his family, as this is a huge commitment for them as well.

“We are proud people here, we’re a proud county. Let us all be united, let us all stand together here. We have a man here who will take us forward and take us on to better things. Give these young lads a chance, let them realise their dreams, the same dreams that I had.”

County chairman Fergus McGee thanked the committee who had worked hard over the last number of weeks to secure this appointment which, in his words “is a very positive step into the future for Donegal GAA.”

McGee thanked Sandra McConnell from Donegal ETB for her valuable insight into HR matters throughout the process. He congratulated Jim McGuinness on his appointment, while delegates expressed their own delight at the official announcement.