Forde is tipped for Sligo post

The Sligo County Board will meet this evening to approve the nomination of a new senior football manager. Mickey Moran ended his four-year term shortly after the county's disappointing championship collapse to Galway last month, but the subcommittee of the county board's executive have been searching out a replacement for the last number of weeks and are now in a position to put forward a single candidate for the board's approval.

There is increasing speculation that former Mayo captain Peter Forde will be given the responsibility. Forde captained the county in the Connacht title victory of 1992 and later served as a selector under manager John Maughan, although yesterday he was awaiting further notification from Sligo.

"I have been given no definite information at this stage and I haven't had any discussions with the county board for a number of days now," he said. "And it's not a question of being interested or not until I am asked to do it. But for the time being I haven't given it the full thought and whether or not I would be able to commit the necessary time to the job."

Moran, meanwhile, is now one of the main candidates for new Donegal manager, which will be confirmed tomorrow night. Finding a replacement for Declan Bonner proved to be a difficult task for the county board and chairman John McConnell said yesterday that they are now eager to complete the process.

"We spoke to Mickey last week as to whether he would be interested, but there are a number of other names which are still in contention as well," said McConnell.

The matter in Fermanagh appears to be less straightforward. Former Mayo manager John Maughan was earlier this week named as the likely successor to Pat King, who ended his four-year term after the semi-final loss to Armagh, but nothing will be confirmed until the county board meeting of next Monday night.

According to county secretary Paddy Donnelly, until the candidates are interviewed on Monday night, no one takes precedence over another. Among the other candidates named is former county footballer Dominic Corrigan, who achieved notable success in leading his school St Michael's, Enniskillen to an Ulster title.

Its now appears likely that Eamonn Coleman will return next season as Derry manager. Coleman had originally stated his intention to resign after the Ulster final loss to Armagh, but has now put himself back in contention. His reappointment will go for approval by the clubs in three weeks.

Pete McGrath also looks set to be reappointed later this month as Down football manager for the 12th consecutive year. McGrath took plenty of time to contemplate his future after his side's shock defeat to Antrim, but it is expected that he will be joined by a whole new backroom team.