by Michael McMullan

WITH the search for Mickey Harte’s successor as Derry manager still ongoing, former Derry defender Gerard O’Kane feels the current crop are in the window to challenge for an All-Ireland title.

Gaelic Life understands no announcement of a new boss is imminent five weeks after the deadline for clubs to have submitted their nominations.

With the third round of club championship action planned for this week, O’Kane doesn’t feel it’s a major disadvantage at not having a manager in place.

He mentions the school of thought that counties must have any new management in place to oversee club action.

“That’s obviously not the way in Derry,” he said. “By the looks of it, it’ll be a knockout rounds before we get anything sorted unless interviews are happening behind closed doors and that’s probably the way it should be.”

Former manager Rory Gallagher and current Glen boss Malachy O’Rourke are the names dominating any conversations. Beyond that, there hasn’t been any other names linked to the role.

O’Kane, currently mixing his playing career with managing Cavan club Killinkere, feels that any incoming manager will have “a handle” on the players both interested in and capable of playing at intercounty level.

“There’s nobody really sticking out like a sore thumb this last two, three, four years that’s not or hasn’t been tried in county football that you’re saying ‘that man has to be there,’” O’Kane said.

He namedrops Glen duo Ryan Dougan and Jack Doherty as two players a new manager may have on their radar.

“I think there’s only three or four players not on the squad that probably could be on it anyway,” O’Kane continues. “Whoever comes in (as manager) will realise that, so it’s not as if they’re trawling through the Dublin Championship where you might have to look at thousands of players.”

With the news of Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan stepping down from the Tyrone position, it intensifies chat of Malachy O’Rourke being linked with the vacancy. O’Kane feels the former Monaghan and Fermanagh boss would be popular should be appointed in the Oakleaf County.

“With Malachy, I think he’s the one person that would nearly keep everybody happy,” O’Kane added.

“I can’t talk for everybody in Derry, but I’m assuming 99 per cent of people in Derry would be happy if Malachy O’Rourke was the Derry manager.

“Given the circumstances which have happened in the last 48, 72 hours in Tyrone he’s going to be sought after. He lives in Tyrone.

“Whether he wants the Derry job, from listening a podcast (The GAA Social) Conor Glass done last year, it didn’t suit him.

“Glen had unfinished business at that time and they’ve done that (win the All-Ireland) in January, so this year might have suited him.

“Given the way that the Tyrone situation has transpired, it might turn into, well, what suits me better, or what am I more comfortable with, than the fact he’s been living in Ballygawley.

“Outside of those two men mentioned (O’Rourke and Gallagher), Derry’s probably dipping their toes into the unknown a bit.

“Sometimes it works out well. You might bring somebody up with fresh ideas, but I think the general thought is the current team maybe doesn’t have a massive window span left.

“If they’re looking to progress beyond the semi-finals, they’ll have to do it now within two or three years.

“Brendan Rogers is 30 or 31, Chrissy (McKaigue) is 34 or 35. I don’t know, they’re only two players, but when you start taking players away from a team, all those things maybe fall by the wayside too.”