Cassidy tipped to succeed Crozier

Cassidy (left) worked with Martin McElkennon in Cavan

Damien Cassidy is being tipped to become the next Derry football manager amid reports that Paddy Crozier's tenure is set to end.

Crozier helped guide Derry to this year's National League title but his three-year contract is now up and he is not expected to seek an extension.

In any case, he would be unlikely to be offered another season in charge after Derry's early championship exit.

Trainer John McCloskey's term as Derry fitness trainer is also at an end.

McCloskey was brought into the Derry set-up last year but the agreement was only for one season.

Bellaghy man Cassidy, who played on Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning side, was a selector during the late Eamon Coleman's final stint in charge of the county between 2000 and 2002.

Cassidy also served as assistant to then Cavan boss Martin McElkennon in 2006, who also had been part of the Derry backroom team between 2000 and 2002.

Forty-three-year-old Cassidy has extensive knowledge of the Derry football scene and his coaching and tactical abilities are highly regarded.

However, there are suggestions that he would not take the Derry position unless a number of conditions were met.

These include his concerns over player welfare and Cassidy is also known to be concerned about the impact of Derry's competitive club football scene on the county side.