DECLAN Bonner will inform the Donegal clubs and county executive of his decision on the managerial position at a meeting next Wednesday night, with speculation widespread throughout the county that he is set to step down.
Bonner has been in charge for five years, taking his native county to two Ulster titles from four provincial finals in that time, but they’ve failed to break their glass ceiling of reaching an All-Ireland semi-final.
Donegal haven’t reached the last four since 2014 and were left crestfallen by this year’s Ulster final defeat to a Derry team that went on to hammer Clare in the last eight and then lose to Galway at the weekend.
The Tír Chonaill men had their own season curtailed at the qualifier stage by Armagh in their second meeting of the summer.
The expectation is that assistant manager Stephen Rochford will depart the setup regardless of Bonner’s decision.
There is one more year left to run on the term agreed last year, when Bonner’s original three-year term ended and the job was offered out for clubs to nominate potential candidates.
However, the incumbent was the only nomination when the deadline passed, leading to the clubs handing him two more years in charge.
Bonner will present his annual end-of-year report to next Wednesday’s meeting, as is the norm in Donegal.
The meeting had been scheduled to take place this evening but has been pushed back for seven days.
If he wishes to stay in situ, clubs will then have the opportunity to question him.
Either way a decision will be made by the middle of next week, offering time for either Bonner to prepare for the 2023 season or for the county board to find a new man before pre-season begins.
Bonner has come under increasing pressure in Donegal this year over the Ulster final defeat and failure to make it to an All-Ireland semi-final.
Speaking before their defeat to Armagh, he addressed the criticism, saying: “We felt that it was a game that there was never going to be more than a kick of a ball between the teams. That’s how it proved, no matter what anyone thinks about how Donegal should have played.
“A lot of people talk, but I don’t pay much interest. It doesn’t bother me one bit, to be honest.
“We just get on with it. The way the game has gone now and especially with the way football has played, unless you’re heavily involved, it doesn’t matter what you think really. That’s no reflection on anyone, but I just have no interest.
“The only people whose opinions matter are the people immediately close to me, the management team and the players.”
Meanwhile, Tony McEntee will see out the final year of his three-year term in Sligo, with the option of a possible further year to be triggered “on review at the end of next season”.
The 2002 All-Ireland winner took the Yeatsmen to the semi-final of the inaugural Tailteann Cup, where they were beaten in a thrilling game by Cavan.
McEntee’s backroom team of Joe Keane, Noel McGuire and former Donegal netminder Paul Durcan will remain in place, with the county’s Athletic Performance Coach Sean Boyle leading on strength and conditioning work.
There also appears to be nothing behind rumours linking Enda McGinley to the vacant Monaghan job, with sources suggesting the former Antrim boss isn’t in the running to replace Seamus McEnaney.
