Donegal review findings can act as a blueprint in moving forward - Fergus McGee 

Fergus McGee admits that the reasons why Donegal GAA have found themselves in the hands of an Interim Review Team are hardly ideal.

But the county chairman believes it does represent a chance for Donegal to put a model framework in place in regards to how they handle their business moving forward. 

A well-documented review of Donegal’s talent academy, finance and governance structures was published in late May revealing 14 “high risk” findings.

A new Interim Implementation Team has now been appointed as the process of carrying out the recommendations of that report begins.

Dr Billy Bennett has been ratified as the Interim Head of Operations with Roger Keenan has been chosen as the Interim Coaching support while Gerard Bradley takes on the role of Interim Governance and Finance support.

Speaking this week to DonegalLive, McGee hopes that the opportunity to put solid guidelines and admin infrastructure in place is maximised and embraced in the weeks and months ahead.  

“What we need to do now collectively and as a county is begin to move things forward in a productive and positive manner,” he explained. “Obviously we have quite a few things on our plate at the moment, that’s well documented. 

“The appointment of this review committee, which was approved on Monday night, that’s a positive step in the right direction. The next step now is for the county executive to meet with those individuals, get the terms of reference agreed upon and look at the best pathway forward.

“And the review committee said this, their words were: ‘It’s clear that all stakeholders only want what’s best for Donegal GAA’. 

“They interviewed a lot of people along the way there. There is a lot of emotion out there but if all that could be channelled in the one direction we’d be a hell of a force to be reckoned with. 

“In terms of the Interim Implementation Team, that had to be approved by county committee and it was on Monday night. At the end of the day, county committee are the governing body of Donegal GAA and it’s important to make that point. 

“It’s not myself or any member of the executive. It’s been such a tough period for Donegal, on and off the field. But looking at the models coming out of Croke Park this review, in an indirect sort of way, puts us at the front of the queue for once. 

“Donegal is often called the ‘Forgotten County’ and that has been the case in a sporting sense as well. But this can be an opportunity for us to get out in front for once, be an elite model, moving forward. 

“But like I said, we need a synergy now across the board to make sure we make the most of the opportunity that’s directly in front of us”. 

Donegal are also on the hunt for a new senior football team manager. There is a closing date on that search of Friday, July 21. 

And while McGee didn’t wish to comment on the level of interest in that so far, he is confident Donegal will get the right candidate for the job. 

“We have an advertisement out there for a senior football team manager. I hope we get a good response to that because there are some fantastic people in the county and indeed outside of it. 

“But there are some really talented people in Donegal that I’d love to see put their names forward”.

In regards to the review, compiled by a joint Ulster Council and Croke Park committee and its 14 high-risk findings, McGee said: “I went through it with three pens, a green, a yellow and a red one. 

“The green was obviously to underline the positive aspects of it and there were plenty of those. It did reference the facility in Convoy, the successful house draw, the Academy and the great work that was done there.

“But like any review there will be aspects of it that pinpoint areas or shortcomings that simply have to be improved upon. But I’d say if you looked at most other counties in Ireland you’d  no doubt get that as well. 

“The circumstances that brought us to this point weren't ideal but in one sense, we’re a little ahead of the curve now in that regard. The hours that go into being involved with Donegal GAA, on and off the pitch, they’re huge. 

“A good operations manager coming into any county I feel will pay for themselves and probably a few around them. And we’ve come to the point now where we need to have that kind of individual in place”.