McGuinness ratified as Donegal end search for new boss
Jim McGuinness was last night ratified as Donegal's new senior football manager, after he had been nominated unopposed for the position.
Naomh Conaill's David Kelch nominated McGuinness for the role and was seconded by Sean Dunnion of the Four Masters club.
McGuinness succeeds John Joe Doherty in the post, and has been appointed for a four-year term, with a review after two years.
The Glenties clubman will have U-21 selectors Peter McGinley and Pat Shovlin as part of his backroom team.
Maxi Curran will take care of video analysis, while the county development officer Michael McMenamin will act as his logistics officer.
McGuinness also expects to add one more person to his management team in the next few weeks.
'Big Jim' managed the Donegal U-21 footballers this year in their march to a first All-Ireland final in that grade since 1987.
The Ulster champions suffered a last-gasp defeat to Dublin at Kingspan Breffni Park in May, with Michael Murphy failing to convert a late penalty.
McGuinness will continue to manage the Donegal U-21 side next year, and it is expected that he will begin the process of putting together his squad for 2011 later this week.
"I will be having my first trial on Friday and am under no illusions as to the size of this job," McGuinness told a County Board meeting last night.
"It's a big job, but I want the players to come in and give nothing but 100%.
"That's the minimum requirement but I'm looking forward to getting down to it right away."
Donegal have become the first of the recently managerless counties to install their new man for next year's campaign.
Mayo, Laois, Cavan and Fermanagh are all on the lookout for new senior football managers after exiting the All-Ireland Championship.
