Former Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has had some strong words for the Derry county board after they failed to re-appoint Rory Gallagher as manager.
Gallagher was in charge of Derry up until the summer of 2023 when he left the role just days before the Ulster final after domestic abuse allegations pertaining to his private life.
The Ulster Council temporarily barred Gallagher "without prejudice" from coaching as the accusations were being investigated by a safeguarding panel.
That barring order was lifted by the Disputes Resolution Authority in February, allowing Gallagher to coach again.
Since then, the Fermanagh native has been working alongside McEnaney who currently manages his local club Clonduff in Monaghan.
Following his return to the sideline, the former Donegal manager has been linked with a number of vacant inter-county jobs, particularly Derry who last night finally ratified Paddy Tally as the new manager, four months after Mickey Harte stepped down.
Speaking on The Farney Army Pod, the Clonduff boss explains why he thinks Gallagher is the best coach in the business.
🚨 Episode 10: Séamus McEnaney Part I OUT NOW!
🏐 Why he backs Rory Gallagher
🏐 Origin of ‘The Banty’ nickname
🏐 Using the priest to help Corduff build pitches
➕ Loads more @FergalMonaghan1 @jack_madden2001🎧 Listen here👇https://t.co/4d5ajTCLFS
— Farney Army Pod (@Farneyarmypod) November 14, 2024
"I have worked with some of the best football coaches in the country, Donie Buckley, Martin McElkennon, Peter Donnelly, Peter McKaigue, all of them boys, they are top class coaches.
"In my eyes, Rory Gallagher is different gravy to anything I have ever seen in my life. He thinks about the game differently, he has every player in Corduff thinking about the game differently - he is different gravy, he has easily the best football brain I've (ever seen).
"I'm friendly with Rory Gallagher going back to 2008, I used to pick his brain, if Fermanagh were out of the championship, I would ring him up and qualify the opposition."
READ ALSO: Rory Gallagher 'Temporarily Debarred, Without Prejudice, From The GAA'
READ ALSO: Derry Manager Rory Gallagher Releases Statement Responding To Domestic Abuse Allegations
The Farney man made it clear that he thought Gallagher should be re-appointed as Derry manager, and says that he was actually offered the job on two occasions.
Initially there had been reports that the Oakleaf county were interested in getting him back, but they then released a statement saying that they would not consider him as Harte's successor.
"Even in relation to Derry, I remember doing the opening of the championship this year in Tyrone, and obviously Tyrone people weren't happy with Mickey Harte going to Derry, I said Tyrone people will be delighted to know that Donegal will beat Derry this weekend, that Derry will dismantle from there, and this will end up being shambolic.
"Now don't forget that Derry were just after winning the National League at this point, but I knew the cracks because this group of Derry players only want to play for one manager, and that's Rory Gallagher.
"I have no grey area, the Derry county board showed absolutely no balls, if there is not a better word there. They showed no bravery, and no balls to not re-appoint Rory Gallagher.
"Actually, they offered him the job in two periods over the last couple of months and didn't deliver on it, and have tried seven or 10 different managers.
"Now this evening it looks like Paddy Tally is going to be the manager, and let me start with this, Paddy Tally is a brilliant man, brilliant coach, but Derry had a great team in the '90s in 1993 and the county board showed no bravery with Eamonn Coleman (the then manager) and they dismantled a brilliant team.
"Now they showed no loyalty to the best manager they have had since. Rory Gallagher brought the whole clubs together in Derry, Rory Gallagher took them out of Division Three to Division One, won back to back Ulster titles, and would have won an All-Ireland, if he had of been in place.
"This Derry county board is about to dismantle probably their greatest team of all times."
READ ALSO: Derry All-Ireland Winner Speaks Out Against Mooted Re-Appointment Of Rory Gallagher
Of course there are those who vehemently disagree with the idea of Gallagher returning, and county legend Gary Coleman, who also happens to be the son of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning manager Eamonn Coleman, told The Irish News that he would boycott matches in protest, if the old boss was reappointed.
“I won’t go to another Derry match if he is manager.
“An All-Ireland with Rory Gallagher as manager under these circumstances is not worth an All-Ireland in my eyes."
Fans will be hoping that the appointment of Tally as manager will finally put an end to this saga, and that the county can start focusing on football again, and having a successful 2025.
