Jim McGuinness was last night ratified as Donegal's new football manager for a four-year term.

The 1992 All-Ireland winner's tenure will be reviewed at the end of the second year, while he will also continue as under 21 manager after leading Donegal to an All-Ireland final appearance earlier this year. McGuinness and his selectors Peter McGinley, Maxi Curran and Pat Shovlin were unanimously voted in by the clubs at last night's county board meeting in Ballybofey after being proposed by county chairman PJ McGowan.

The Glenties man is eager to get down to business straight away, telling delegates: "I will be having my first trial on Friday and am under no illusions as to the size of this job.

"It's a big job, but I want the players to come in and give nothing but 100 per cent. That's the minimum requirement but I'm looking forward to getting down to it right away."

The smooth appointment of McGuinness is in stark contrast to that of his successor John Joe Doherty two years ago, when he was offered the job before the offer was reneged in favour of a joint-ticket of Declan Bonner and Charlie Mulgrew. But after appearing before a county board meeting, Doherty ultimately came through by 27 votes to 19. Tweet

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