DUBLIN great Jason Sherlock has ruled out re-entering the race to manage Monaghan having initially emerged as a favourite to replace Seamus McEnaney.
Sherlock, an All-Ireland winner as a player in 1995 and a key part of Jim Gavin's coaching team during the five-in-a-row era, reportedly underwent an interview for the role last month.
The drawn out process of finding a new Farney manager still hasn't concluded though Sherlock said he has finished with the process and wished officials luck with their search.
Speaking at the launch of Sport Ireland's 'Workout What Works for You campaign', Sherlock confirmed that he 'explored' the Monaghan opportunity and shook his head when asked if he'd had any second thoughts about it since.
"No, as I say, I explored about getting involved and it wasn't working out for me and that is as far as I have gone in the process," said Sherlock.
"I genuinely hope it works out for the players and also the supporters and officials.
"I have been fortunate over the years to be sounded out and asked about certain things so I would have the height of respect for them, in terms of coaching against them, playing against them in the Noughties.
"And if you look at their last League game against Dublin, it gave you a sense of where potentially they could be so when you are asked about something like that, I obviously wanted to do it a service but their record speaks for itself in terms of where they are currently in Gaelic football."
Sherlock, ex-Westmeath manager Brendan Hackett and outgoing Monaghan minor boss Mark Counihan were all reportedly interviewed for the role. Sherlock declined to go into detail about how far into the process he went or why things didn't work out.
"I suppose I'm kind of conscious that there's still a process going on," he said. "It's fair to say that certainly it was something I explored and the one thing I would say is that from anyone I met from a Monaghan perspective, both players, officials, people that had been connected with Monaghan GAA in the past, or relative past, they all care about Monaghan deeply and I personally would like to see them progress. They have some really great players there and it's a county in which they really value and appreciate their Gaelic football so I hope things work out for them."
Like Donegal, Monaghan remain on the hunt for a new manager despite the attraction of Division One football in 2023.
"What I would say is it probably demonstrates the commitment, the challenge and the responsibility that goes with being an inter-county manager these days," said Sherlock.
"Obviously as an inter-county player, they give a lot and they sacrifice a lot. Being an inter-county manager is a big privilege, there is a great responsibility to be able to do that and serve the county and also the panel of players, serve the backroom team in the right way, so I can understand why it has been a challenge for these counties and you would just hope that they would get the people that they want, that it is a good fit for their county and their players moving forward."
Former Dublin Footballer Jason Sherlock was speaking as an ambassador for Sport Ireland’s ‘Workout What Works for You’ campaign. This campaign is encouraging and supporting men over 45 to be more active and increase their daily physical activity. For tips on getting more active, go to sportireland.ie/workout
