James Horan the next Donegal manager? One prominent bookmakers have made him favourite

At least Donegal fans can keep singing ‘Jimmy’s winning matches’ if this one is a goer.

It’s only a matter of weeks since James Horan stepped down as manager of the Mayo footballers after four years in charge yet today he’s being touted as an unlikely replacement for Jim McGuinness in Donegal after the Glenties man left his post (also after four years) on Friday night. The odds on Horan becoming the Donegal boss have shortened to 11/4 after a substantial number of bets in Boylesports outlets in the border counties, moving him ahead of contenders such as Rory Gallagher, Damien Diver and Declan Bonner, all of whom have been linked to the post in recent days.

Massive plunge on James Horan to get the #Donegal Gaa job. Now 11/4 fav from 33/1. @officialdonegal @hoganstandgaa @GAALive — Liam Glynn (@BoylesportsLG) October 6, 2014

  “We laid numerous bets at 33/1 on James Horan and then laid him at 10/1 and 5/1 and as the demand continued we had to cut him into the 11/4 favourite,” said Boylesports PR executive Liam Glynn. “The bets were all placed in our border county shops and now as it stands, James Horan is the worst result in the book for Boylesports.” Horan did cite family and work demands amongst the reasons for his departure from the Mayo set-up recently, so speculation linking him with the Donegal job does appear strange in that regard, although four successive Connacht titles and back to back All-Ireland Final appearances with Mayo illustrates that he certainly has the pedigree Donegal would be seeking after McGuinness’ departure. Best watch this space.