Dineen declares interest in Rossies

KEVIN McSTAY will have a battle on his hands if he wants to take sole charge of the Roscommon footballers as former Under-21 manager Nigel Dineen has declared an interest in the job. Roscommon was thrown into disarray during the week as Fergal O’Donnell resigned from the joint-management team rather than engaging in a leadership contest with McStay. Selectors Stephen Bohan and David Casey also left their roles with O’Donnell saying in a statement that ‘a concerted effort has been made (outside of management and players) to undermine and disparage’ the trio. As McStay and O’Donnell were ratified as a joint management team, the county board had no option but to open nominations for the post and it remains to be seen what McStay will do now, and whether he is inclined to interview for the role. Dineen (above), a former forward who won a Connacht SFC title back in 2001, led the Rossies to an All-Ireland U21 final in 2012 — his first season in charge — where they lost to Jim Gavin’s Dubin side. The examples of both Gavin and Jim McGuinness in Donegal as two managers who used the U21 as a springboard for senior management, may work in the Castlerea native’s favour. Nobody else has thrown their hat in the ring as of yet but there is speculation that charismatic former goalkeeper Shane Curran may be interested in the role, too. Whatever happens in the coming days and weeks, it is turning into yet another messy situation for Roscommon, who are now looking at their 14th change in senior management in 20 years.