Declan Bonner has confirmed that he will be in the race to become the new Donegal manager.
Bonner has weighed up his options in the three weeks since Rory Gallagher stepped down from the position.
The Lettermacaward man, who has already been nominated by a handful of club in the county, has confirmed that he will be allowing his name to stay in the running for a position he previously held from 1997-2000.
“After a couple of weeks of discussions with my family and with other people, I’ve decided to allow my name go in,” Bonner told Donegal Daily this evening.
Bonner has spoken with his employers, Findlater & Company, who have given their blessing.
Bonner has a backroom team in place and is the first man to confirm his candidacy ahead of Saturday evening’s closing date for nominations and applications.
He said: “It wasn’t a decision that I made lightly. It wasn’t one that I thought I would have to make at this stage.
“A lot of people have been asking me what my plans are but, as and from this evening, I will definitely be going forward.”
Bonner was previously Donegal senior boss from August 1997 until he stepped down after the 2000 campaign.
In 1998, Bonner took Donegal to an Ulster final which they lost to a late Joe Brolly goal.
Bonner returned to inter-county involvement at underage level in 2011. After success in the Buncrana Cup (U16) and Jim McGuigan Cup (U17), Bonner guided the Donegal minors to an Ulster MFC title in 2014, when they went on to lose to Kerry in the All-Ireland MFC final.
Bonner has been Donegal Under-21 manager in 2016 and 2017, this year leading them to an Ulster title.
He said: “I do honestly believe that within Donegal we are well capable of being very competitive and able to stay at a top level for the next number of years.
“There is the nucleus of a very good side in Donegal.”
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