Former manager Rory Gallagher says Donegal will ‘do well’ to stay in the top ‘8-10’ teams in Ireland.
Gallagher, who has taken over his native Fermanagh since stepping down as the Donegal manager, believes Donegal are in a period where they need to rebuild.
Gallagher stepped down following a heavy 4-17 to 0-14 qualifier loss to Galway, which came a few weeks after a nine-point defeat to Tyrone in an Ulster semi-final.
“An absolute gigantic amount of effort went in to the 2017 season. I feel it’s going to take that and even more and more now,” Gallagher told RTÉ Sport.
“I believe because of the success, it is right to have high expectations but I felt at the end of 2016 Donegal were in a position where they would do well to stay in the 8-10 teams in the country.
“I feel they are in a rebuilding phase, they have some very good players but there is an awful lot of young players and there is huge management in that.”
Gallagher had been involved in Donegal since 2011, when he was appointed assistant manager to Jim McGuinness.
After replacing McGuinness as manager, Gallagher took Donegal to the 2015 and 2016 Ulster finals, losing out narrowly in both to Monaghan and Tyrone.
New Donegal boss Declan Bonner has already stated that he is of the opinion that Tir Chonaill can stay competitive.
Gallagher warned: “It’s a gradual process for players, their quality fitness and ability to do the things that made them the players they are. Donegal now need to rebuild.”
“Losing the calibre of players that Donegal lost from Paul Durcan, Eamon McGee, Rory Kavanagh, Colm McFadden, Neil Gallagher also seeing Karl (Lacey) retire now.
“People need to understand that players retire because they are no longer as good as they were.”
