Jim McGuinness agrees with Michael Ryan regarding proposed changes to the 13-day rule.

Waterford hurling boss Ryan has spoken against Congress motions to pare the current 13-day period for intercounty teams' championship preparations back to six and Donegal football manager McGuinness concurs with the view that six days is not adequate.

He says in Tuesday's Independent: "It doesn't really sound great. Obviously, the effects would probably differ from county to county. We've got about six likely starting members of the team in college, and geographically we're in a difficult enough position.

"Pat Gilroy would have a different situation to us. They could maybe do a bit of work in Dublin and do a bit of work with their college because they're all within 40 minutes all the time.

"Our lads are away all week and they're coming home at the weekend, so it's not really until May when we get our hands on them to really start doing any proper coaching.

"You're kind of managing a situation up until that point because the initial stages you're trying to get them fit, and then they're involved in Sigerson, and when the league starts it takes a life of its own.

"It's only when the league is over then you can start focusing on the football side of things.

"That would be an important time of the year for us from the point of view of having free weekends, when we can actually start working with the players on the elements that we would like to bring into our championship games.

"The contact with players is very important." Tweet

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