“I hope a Donegal man gets the job” – The search for Declan Bonner’s replacement has begun

"They have to get it done quick and get the right man."

Declan Bonner's second stint in charge of Donegal has come to an end, and the search for his replacement is well underway.

Bonner was the first Donegal manager to guide his team to back-to-back Ulster titles in 2018-2019, however, when his side lost to Armagh this year, he knew it was over.

"I knew myself that I was going to walk away after that," Bonner told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

Bonner didn't speak to the media after the hammering by Armagh in Clones.

"I wanted to make sure that the main people that I needed to talk to were the major stakeholders, that's the players, that's the management, that's the county committee and the county executives. I have done that over the last four weeks.

"I knew if I was asked a question immediately after the match, which I would have been asked, I'd have had to say 'yes' but I had to be fair to those guys. That was my reason (for not speaking to the media).

"To be in this job you have to be obsessed. I was in a real privileged position that I was lucky enough to play for Donegal at all levels, from under-16 to senior, and privileged and honoured that I managed Donegal. Whoever comes in after me it will be a privileged position for those guys."

Bonner is hopeful that a Donegal man will be at the helm next season's and naturally, all eyes look to Jim McGuinness as a potential successor.

Former teammate of McGuinness however, Brendan Devenney, doesn't believe that this is likely however.

"He has put a lot in [to soccer]….I know he is doing media work but he's certainly concentrating on let's call it soccer at the minute," Devenney told BBC Radio Foyle.

"It's hard to know. Stranger things have happened."

Devenney does believe that the three-person committee tasked with finding a successor to Bonner will need to more swiftly.

"Monaghan and Mayo are without a manager so whatever Donegal are going to do they have to get it done quick and get the right man."

Devenney added that 2012 All-Ireland medal winner Rory Kavanagh, who guided St Eunan's to last year's Donegal county title, could be a contender along with former Monaghan boss Malachy O'Rourke, who steered Glen to a first Derry championship last November.