DONEGAL team manager Rory Gallagher has expressed his disappointment that his predecessor Jim McGuinness has chosen to publicly comment on the breakup of the 2012 All-Ireland winning management team.
The Fermanagh native said in a statement yesterday evening that the players, management and back-room team had a very clear understanding that what happened within the group remained within the group.
Gallagher stepped away from the Donegal set-up in 2013 before returning twelve months later as manager following McGuinness’ departure.
“I have received many requests for my reaction to the description given by Jim Mc Guinness in his book with regard to my departure from the Donegal Senior Management Team in September 2013.
“At this point, I am not interested in commenting on the inaccuracies in the book while involved with the Donegal Senior Team. I am comfortable in the knowledge that Donegal County Board officers are aware of the true circumstances of my departure. 
“I will say I am disappointed Jim has chosen to comment on the breakup of the management team at this point. The players, management and back-room team had a very clear understanding that what happened within the group remained within the group. 
“Following my departure I did not comment on the matter as this would have been unfair on the players and the new management team whose focus was on the year ahead. I am really looking forward to the new season working with a brilliant squad of players who have given Donegal so much over the last five years.
“The management, players and the County Board will be doing everything in our power to achieve success again for Donegal in 2016,” Gallagher said.
McGuinness’s book ‘Until Victory Always, A Memoir’ makes reference of the differences between the pair and McGuinness reveals he hasn’t spoken to Gallagher since telling his eventual successor that he would not be part of his management team in 2014.