Donegal captain Michael Murphy is urging the Donegal County Board to extend Rory Gallagher’s contract beyond 2017.
Gallagher has guided Donegal to two Ulster SFC finals, but lost both to Monaghan and Tyrone respectively.
They exited the All-Ireland series at the quarter-final juncture under the tutelage of Gallagher in both 2015 and 2016.
There have been calls from some supporters to seek a change in management, but Murphy has insisted Gallagher is the ideal man to continue to lead them forward.
Murphy points to the fact that Gallagher has worked with a number Donegal U21 teams over the last number of years and knows the players inside out.
The Glenwillly clubman believes a long-term strategic plan and vision is key in order to keep Donegal at the top table.
In an interview with The Irish Independent, Murphy said, “What is coming through is a number of younger players who have played at minor level and who have showed over the last couple of years that they have potential,” he said.
“It’s important now that a fairly steady platform develops over the next three or four years. Rory, knowing them at U-21 level and with being involved over the last couple of years, it would be very right for him to drive that on over two, three, four years. As players we would be keen for that to happen.”
“As much as anything you’ll be striving to be successful but likewise you have to be realistic and say that there are players that will maybe need time to bed in, things mightn’t just happen instantly.
“We’ll be striving to make it happen but they need a steady platform and chance to continuously develop over the next two to three years. Rory, having been involved with a lot of them, I think it’s vital that his team is at the helm.”
Murphy eased fears over the severity of his knee injury, as he played a crucial role for his club in their Donegal SFC win over Bundoran last Sunday.
Murphy confirmed he sustained a grade one medial ligament tear in his knee.
