Donegal were last night working out the process for identifying and selecting a successor to Jim McGuinness, who stepped down as the county football manager at the weekend.

It is expected that this task will get under way immediately with a likely target of bringing a recommendation back to in time for next month’s meeting of the county board.

The favourites for the position remain Rory Gallagher, who formerly worked with McGuinness as coach to the All-Ireland winning team in 2012, and Declan Bonner who this year took the county to its first All-Ireland minor final.

“At this stage, I have spoken to no-one [about the position],” Bonner told BBC Radio Foyle last night. “I haven’t decided anything at this stage. In fact, I haven’t even thought about it.”

The board will however be anxious to make an appointment as quickly as possible because the new management team will want to start work immediately on their plans for next year.