BBC SPORT | N Ireland | McEniff plays down return talk

Brian McEniff has played down reports that he could return as caretaker manager of the Donegal football team.

The Donegal county board appear to be no nearer to appointing a permanent successor to Mickey Moran and there have been reports that McEniff might take on the role again for a brief period.

However, McEniff told the BBC that his return to the management set-up, if indeed it is necessary, would be limited to a selectorial role for the McKenna Cup which starts in mid-January.

It is understood that Donegal officials are still holding out hope that Martin McHugh might be persuaded to take on the job.

However, McHugh has been on record several times in the last couple of months saying that he didn't want the role at this time.

"We've had difficulties within the county in terms of getting a new manager which have been well-documented," said McEniff who steered the county to the 1992 All-Ireland title.

Martin McHugh (right) works as a BBC GAA pundit
Martin Hugh (right): Donegal link

McEniff has confirmed that he will be challenging outgoing county chairman Danny Harkin at Donegal's annual convention on 8 December.

"I have been nominated by my club (Bundoran) and I will be allowing my name to be put forward for the position," he said.

Outgoing chairman Harkin has been at loggerheads with fellow county executive members in recent months.

Harkin supports controversial GPA demands that players should receive weekly expenses while he also criticised his fellow Donegal officers' handling of this year's county football championship.

A number of clubs appealed against results in this year's competition but, instead of adjudicating in the disputes, the disputes were referred upwards to the Ulster Council and Croke Park.

The arguments have still not been resolved and with the Donegal Championship still not concluded, the county was not represented in this year's Ulster Club Championship.

O'Hare latest

A motion of no-confidence in Harkin's leadership was passed at a recent county board meeting which he refused to attend.

However, Harkin, effectively, can only be removed from the role by the county convention.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Antrim footballers to consider future action over the appointment of PJ O'Hare as county football boss did not take place on Thursday evening.

Fourteen members of the county squad drafted a letter last weekend which called for the appointment of O'Hare to be overturned.

However, the appointment was ratified on Monday evening and the players' letter was not taken into consideration because it had not been signed.

The players argue that Antrim, under O'Hare, will not be given the resources to compete effectively at intercounty level.


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