Anthony Daly has said he chose not to put himself forward to be Clare's new hurling manager for the sake of "unity in the county".
Davy Fitzgerald stepped down from the post last month after five season in charge, though his absence from the game proved shortlived after he was unveiled as the new Wexford boss on Friday.
Daly, an All-Ireland-winning captain with the Banner County, was tipped to take over but he has ruled himself out of contention, and backed Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor to step up to the plate.
“Ever since I left the Clare job in 2006, it was always my dream to go back and manage my county again,” Daly told the Irish Examiner.
“But I also believe that we need unity in the county now and I don’t want this to be a divisive contest with Donal and Gerry. They did a brilliant job with a lot of these players at minor and U21 level. They won three All-Ireland U21s in a row, which was a massive achievement.
“They are ambitious guys who naturally want the senior job now, and they are entitled to their shot at it. I can’t say that I didn’t get it once before, and maybe, who knows, I may have again.
"But at this stage, I feel it’s time for me to step back and let the two lads at it.
“After the last few months, I feel very strongly about the unity of Clare hurling, and ensuring that the Banner has total togetherness going forward."
Daly was named Clare manager back in 2003, but walked away three years later after an All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kilkenny.
In 2008 he took the reins at Dublin, and led the capital to a first Leinster in 52 years when they overgcame Galway in the 2013 decider. He stepped down 12 months later.
