Derry boss Mickey Moran was offered an Ulster Council job

Mickey Moran has opted to turn down a job offer with the Ulster Council and will remain as Derry football boss.

The Maghera man was in line to be appointed as the provincial council's inaugural Football Development Officer.

If he had accepted the post, he would have been unable to remain on as Derry boss and he would also have had to step down from his teaching position in Limavady.

However, Moran informed the Derry county board on Thursday evening that he would not be stepping down from his role with the Oak Leafers.

Moran has refused to comment on the matter while Ulster Council chairman Danny Murphy also wouldn't be drawn on the issue.

The Derry boss is expected to introduce several new players to his squad when the panel is announced shortly.

Last year's All-Ireland Minor winning skipper Gerard O'Kane has already been asked to attend the county's first training session of the season next week.

Harkin wants to return

Meanwhile, Down footballer James McCartan has been asked to appear before the GAA's Games Administration Committee arising from an incident in a challenge game in May which left a Westmeath player with a broken jaw.

Westmeath officials claimed that Kenny Larkin was struck in an off-the-ball incident but McCartan is understood to have insisted that the injury was caused by an accident.

Meanwhile, Danny Harkin is set to challenge for the Donegal chairman's role at the county's annual convention in December.

The controversial Harkin was deposed by Brian McEniff at last year's convention but he remains a popular figure within the county.

Harkin fell out with his fellow county officers during his term and a series of rows caused chaos within Donegal GAA.

Meanwhile, former Kerry boss Paidi O Se is being linked with the vacant Westmeath job.