The return of Jim McGuinness as Donegal team manager would be a huge lift to the GAA in the county, according to a former county colleague.
Brendan Devenney believes that such a return would also encourage others to come on board to bring the county back up to the top tier.
The past year has been a traumatic one for GAA in the county-but the display of the county team against Derry and Monaghan has brought back some green shoots according to Devenney.
There is strong speculation in the county that McGuinness, who took Donegal to an Al-Ireland title in 2012 and a final appearance in 2014, is the favoured candidate to succeed Aidan O'Rourke, who stepped into the role following the departure of Paddy Carr before the end of the Allianz League campaign.
For Devenney, the omens are pretty good for the county.
“If Jim McGuinness walked into that Donegal dressing room now and speaks, the boys will be hanging on every word," he said
“And he has to be the number one name out there and if you ask any Donegal supporter, Jim would be their number one."
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Despite their relegation from Division One and a surprise Ulster SFC defeat to Down, Devenney believes the Donegal job is prestigious enough to attract a high caliber of candidate.
“I think it’s a very attractive job as Donegal did pretty well against Derry who ran Kerry close and beat Monaghan fairly convincingly and they gave Dublin quite a tussle too," Devenney added.
“The young lads are blooded and have shown their worth against top teams and that is with a number of absentees.
“If Jim came back, you would have also these other guys back. And the boys who are there would get a 15-20 per cent lift from Jim and that is what he would bring.
“If it was to be Jim everybody in Donegal would be over the moon. The big stumbling block is his commitment to the soccer world.”
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Devenney added that the game had changed quite a bit since McGuinness was in charge from 2011 to 2014, winning the Sam Maguire in 2012 and leading the county to another final in 2014.
This year, McGuinness has taken sessions with the Down footballers and has pursued a career in soccer coaching with Celtic and in the US and China in the years after stepping down as Donegal boss.
“Jim has kept his hand in with doing bits of coaching and bits of media and it is probably more about the energy he would bring and his wonderful organisation and experience," Devenney said.
“ There are a few lads like Paddy McBrearty, Hugh McFadden and Ryan McHugh who remember him, but can you imagine the lift those young lads would get if he came back.
“Football is more attack minded now but if he came in look at the aura he would bring and there are loads of people who would want to commit to the county in many ways and that is something that has been missing in the turmoil of recent months.
“To have Jim back would get the whole county of Donegal and the diaspora back on board and there are just so many- plus points.
“And don’t forget Jim loves Donegal and he loves the GAA.
And while he admitted that he would like to see McGuinness back in charge, Devenney said it was “less about what we want and more about who actually wants the job.”
“On the last occasion, the popular candidates were Rory Kavanagh, Jim McGuinness and Malachy O’Rourke.
“But none of them wanted it and you would take any of those guys and Malachy O’Rourke has ruled himself out and I understand he has been approached by Donegal and Tyrone-but I think that Fergal Logan and Brian Dooher will stay on.
“Look, everybody is going to approach Malachy O’Rourke and I even heard of Dublin sounding him out as his reputation is so high.
“On the last time Jim (McGuinness) wanted a role in partnership with Rory Kavanagh and Karl Lacey.
“Rory Kavanagh has ruled himself out and there is a question mark about Karl Lacey over whether he wants to come back into the management after the on-going situation with the Academy.”
