Brendan Devenney believes there are many question marks hovering above Donegal as they prepare to begin their Allianz Football League Division 1 campaign with a clash against All-Ireland champions Kerry in Ballybofey on Sunday.
It's all change for the county with talismanic long-time captain Michael Murphy retired and a new management team spearheaded by Paddy Carr now in charge.
Speaking on RTÉ's Game On ahead of the first weekend of the 2023 league, former Donegal forward Devenney outlined the changes and uncertainty that his county will be getting accustomed to across the next few weeks heading into the championship during what looks to be a transitional period.
"I think what didn't help was the projected nature of the management and it left such a void for everyone asking what was going on," he said.
"Then finally the management was ratified and Aidan O'Rourke came in and Paddy Bradley came in as well in the backroom team. They've amassed quite a big backroom team now which all county teams need as well.
"They then had to deal with injuries. There were people who didn't seem to be turning up for training and there were different people (where it was unclear) are they going to commit next year or are they not.
"The rumour mill here in Donegal was off the charts. I'd never seen anything like it. So it was a tough, tough start for (management) to get bedded in for so many reasons.
"Neil McGee retired as well and I know Neil mightn't have been a certain starter but surely a huge presence in the dressing room, along with the likes of Michael as well.
"So they've had to put all that aside. It's going to take a bit of bedding. There's long-term absentees at the minute. Michael Langan, Oisin Gallen, Ciarán Thompson and Paul Brennan are all long-term."
Citing other likely absentees, Devenney concluded that, "There are a lot, a lot of questions hanging over Donegal" and "it's a very tough job for the new management to come in and do".
On the elevation of Paddy McBrearty to the captaincy in place of Michael Murphy, Devenney pointed to his vast experience.
"Paddy McBrearty's been installed as the captain, you're talking about big boots to fill but Paddy's been around the block. He's seen it all and I think he's one of the last links to the 2012 All-Ireland team. What a player he's been for Donegal. There had to come a time when (Murphy's retirement) happened."
