The Donegal senior football squad has released a statement strongly criticising the procedure used by the county board to appoint the county’s new manager.
It was announced in mid-October that former Fermanagh manager Charlie Mulgrew and All-Ireland winning captain Declan Bonner would be appointed as the new Donegal football management on 3 November but that decision was then changed.
The process was then taken back a step and it was subsequently announced that John Joe Doherty, initially passed over, would in fact take charge of the team.
The situation became fractious, with one report claiming that former Donegal manager Brian McEniff walking out of a meeting after Doherty claimed he had influenced the selection process.
The players' statement begins by saying the squad ‘would like to express its serious disappointment’ over the handling of the appointment of the new manager, and criticises the board’s handling of the removal of incumbent Brian McIver.
It also claims that there was no communication between the squad and the board despite assurances that the squad would be contacted during the selection process.
The statement finishing by assuring the candidates for the job that the squad has no issue with their credentials, but calls for club delegates to “reappraise the position of a number of senior executives in the (county) Board”.
Other candidates for the Donegal job included John Joe Doherty, Jim McGuinness, Francie Martin and former St. Eunan's and Glenfin manager Mickey Houston.
Full text of Donegal Senior Football Squad Statement:
"The Donegal senior football squad would like to express its serious disappointment with the manner in which the Donegal Co Board selection committee has handled the appointment of a new manager.
"The squad recently conveyed its views on the removal of Brian McIver and offered to consult with the Board during the selection process to find a suitable replacement. Although a commitment was given by the Board executive that the squad would indeed be contacted, no communication was received by the players during the process.
"We believe that we had a valuable role to play in the selection process and that the Board executive and selection committee have made a serious mistake by failing to consult with the squad.
"The players wish to make it clear that we have no issue with any of the candidates for the job, and we believe all hold valid credentials. However, in light of the breakdown of the appointment process, we would call on club delegates now to reappraise the position of a number of senior executives in the Co Board.”
