Donegal’s All-Ireland winning captain Michael Murphy has ruled himself out of the running to be the county’s next senior football manager, citing his lack of experience.
He also told reporters on Wednesday that he’d be unlikely to get involved in any backroom team as Donegal look to avoid a repeat of last year and make an early appointment.
Murphy, who was speaking to media ahead of next Sunday’s All-Ireland minor football final between Derry and Monaghan, told The Irish Independent: “If somebody is motivated whether it’s from a Donegal perspective or elsewhere, that’s 80 or 90 per cent of the role and that’s the way it should be.
“So if anybody is hungry enough to work with that group of players, of which there is good ability and hopefully a few more of them will be back around the squad again next year with injuries and travel and different things out of the way.
“I think it’s still a very appealing role for somebody if the time is right.”
Murphy, who retired from intercounty football last year, identified the appointment of a new manager, the refloating of the Academy system and resolving issues around governance as the three biggest issues facing Donegal.
And he admitted a preference for an internal candidate.
“Ideally all over the country I think everybody would want the best person from within their own county, it’s the way the GAA is set up and the way you want things.”
Donegal are currently inviting ‘expressions of interest’ in the senior manager’s job until Friday, July 21t.
The county board also says it reserves the right to approach other potential candidates beyond the list applications it receives.
