Donegal football is preparing for change after Declan Bonner stepped down as the county's senior football manager this evening.
Bonner met Donegal GAA board officials and delegates on Wednesday evening, where he gave his annual report and then officially ended his five years at the helm, in what was his second term as county manager.
He first took the helm at the callow age of 32
It is understood that Bonner contacted a number of players who are currently outside of the country at the weekend to tell them of his plans. He has been in touch with the remainder of the panel since.
In the past decade Bonner has been right at the coalface of Donegal football, both at development and senior level.
Across all grades, juvenile, underage and senior, he landed 10 trophies in 11 years. These included back-to-back Ulster senior titles in 2018 and '19 and a Division 2 Allianz league title.
He also won a McKenna Cup during his most recent spell in charge. At underage level he led the county to the last Under-21 Ulster title, while at minor level he won two league titles and an Ulster crown.
Having come on board in 2011, Bonner guided the county's Under-16s to a provincial title and repeated that feat at Under-17 level the following year.
Doubts over his continuation had emerged when the county lost to an Armagh side in the qualifiers, one they had accounted for weeks beforehand in the Ulster series.
Bonner had one year of his agreed term left but Donegal are now are on the look out for a new manager, with the side starting 2023 in Division 1 of the Allianz League.
In a statement to donegalgaa.ie, the now former manager said: "I am stepping down with immediate effect from my role as Donegal senior football manager. It has been a great honour to manage this team over the past five years, as it was to manage the teams from U16 level up in the five years before that.
"Highlights from my time in the role include competing in 4 Ulster finals and winning two of these, back to back, in 2018 and 2019. I am proud to leave the team playing league football in Allianz League Division 1 next year.
"I would like to thank each and every player involved with the team over the past 5 years as well as every member of the management team during this period. Their commitment and work ethic was inspiring and working with them has been a privilege.
"Thank you to the County Board for their support throughout and in particular, our chairperson Mick McGrath for his support. We didn't always agree on everything but both of us always had the best interest of Donegal at heart.
"Club is the heart of the GAA and I would like to thank all 40 clubs in Donegal, in particular my own club Na Rossa who have been a brilliant support to me always. I would also like to thank the genuine Donegal supporters, most of whom I know personally. Many have travelled the length and breadth of the country with the team and I know they will be back in the stands and terraces supporting the team next year."
