Six in contention for Donegal job

Charlie Mulgrew is among the contenders for the Donegal job

There are six applications for the vacant Donegal county senior football managerial position.

Declan Bonner, John Joe Doherty, Michael Houston, Francie Martin, Jim McGuinness and Charlie Mulgrew have all applied to succeed Brian McIver.

Doherty is a slight favourite after declaring his interest early but it appears to be a tight race with several candidates in with a chance.

McGuinness, Mulgrew and Bonner will all draw strong support in Donegal.

Monday's Donegal GAA committee meeting chose a selection panel for the position which includes chairman Sean Kelly, secretary Charlie O'Donnell and ex-county manager and current county vice-chairman PJ McGowan.

Houston had a stint as a selector during Mickey Moran's reign in Donegal while Martin assisted Brian McIver during the Tyrone man's first two years in charge in the county.

Martin currently manages leading Donegal club Glenswilly while Houston's managerial CV includes a spell in charge of St Eunan's.

During his relatively short managerial career, Glencolmcille man Doherty has guided Donegal outfit Naomh Mhura to the county junior title and he is already regarded as an astute reader of the game and a strict disciplinarian.

Brian McIver stepped down as Donegal boss earlier this month

Doherty has also managed his own club Naomh Columba and the Donegal under-21 team.

Mulgrew was late to declare his candidacy but now that he has thrown his hat into the ring, he appears to be a strong contender for the job.

The St Eunan's man guided Fermanagh into the All-Ireland Football semi-finals in his first year in charge in 2004.

While his subsequent three seasons with the Erne County were not as successful, he will have his supporters in Donegal so it would not be a surprise to see Mulgrew landing the role.

Mulgrew has previously worked with Bonner and while both men have applied for the position, there is a possibility that one of them could opt out in order to leave the field clearer for the other.

Bonner previously managed Donegal in the late 1990s and his side were decidedly unlucky to lose out to Derry in the 1998 Ulster Final - in the pre-backdoor era.

In recent years, Bonner has managed at club level in Donegal and he has also impressed in his role with a number of the county's underage squads.