Lacey now a contender to land Derry football job

Karl Lacey declined to comment on the speculation linking him with the Derry job

Donegal’s four-time All Star Karl Lacey has emerged as a contender to become the new manager of the Derry GAA senior footballers.

The county has been on the lookout for a prominent candidate to succeed Mickey Harte, who left the job in July after just one year in charge, having led the Oak Leafers to the Division One league title.

The Derry players were keen on Rory Gallagher’s return, but that door was closed when the Oak Leaf county board confirmed last month that the Fermanagh native was "not in consideration".

The potential arrival of 2012 All-Ireland winner Lacey could re-energise a Derry side that ended a long wait for an Ulster title under Gallagher in 2022, and then retained the Anglo Celt in 2023.

Lacey, who was also named Footballer of the Year in 2012, is currently in charge of Down’s former All-Ireland club champions Kilcoo. He leads them into Sunday’s county SFC final against Burren in Newry, having already managed them to their 11th title in 12 years last season in what was his first year in charge.

When asked about the county’s managerial vacancy, Derry chairman John Keenan told BBC Sport NI the county is “following a process” and will make an announcement “when the process is complete”.

While accepting it is “not ideal” that Derry do not have a manager in place ahead of Saturday’s provincial senior football championship draws, Keenan said the Oak Leafers are “dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s” in their quest to appoint a new manager.

Lacey declined to comment on speculation linking him to the Derry job.

Before taking over as Kilcoo boss Lacey, 40, had been the head of Donegal’s academy but quit that role early in 2023 citing a lack of support from the county board.

Slaughtneil manager Mark Doran, who has also linked with the Derry job, will take charge of the club in Saturday’s crunch Derry SFC semi-final against defending All-Ireland club champions Glen.