Dublin county board chairman Sean Shanley has rejected reports that 2011 All-Ireland-winning manager Pat Gilroy will be given first refusal to replace Jim Gavin.
The five-in-a-row winning Dublin senior football manager stepped aside on Saturday morning after sitting down with the squad to inform them of his decision.
Reports this morning had emerged stating that despite rumours linking Dessie Farrell strongly with the position, former Dublin football and hurling manager Pat Gilroy would get first refusal.
However, speaking on The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk this morning, Shanley said that was not the case.
"No, [that's] not the way at all, no, no. We haven't spoken to anyone yet and I don't know whether Pat [Gilroy] is even interested or not. We will be speaking to everyone that's interested.
"There'd be no truth in that, we certainly haven't talked to anyone or even discussed it among ourselves. Tonight's management meeting, that's the first it'll be discussed."
The county board are expected to appoint a successor to Gavin by this coming weekend, and Shanley pointed out that meetings tonight and on Thursday will likely lead to developments.
6 All-Ireland titles.
5 National League titles.
7 Leinster titles.
After seven wonderful years in charge, there's little else to say, except... #ThanksJim
💙 pic.twitter.com/da5ex8xdCk— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) November 30, 2019
"The executive committee have a meeting tonight which was arranged before this hit the headlines. So we've got a management meeting tonight in Parnell Park.
"And then on Thursday night we have a county committee meeting - that's where representatives from all the clubs come. We'd expect to get the go-ahead from the county committee to go and appoint a man."
Shanley paid tribute to Gavin, whose only championship defeat in charge was in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Donegal.
"[It's] a difficult job to follow, whoever gets it. He'll be judged on that mark. It couldn't last forever, and Jim was one man who said and drilled into the players that it won't last forever, enjoy it while we're there, enjoy it while we're on top, and someday it'll happen."
The county board chair also pointed out that news of Gavin's departure on Saturday morning came as a complete shock to him, saying he hadn't been aware it was going to happen in advance.
"No, no. Now Jim hadn't said he was staying, and likewise he hadn't said he was going. So were just rolling along happily and then Saturday morning this news came out - that was it.
"I wouldn't be talking to Jim that often. In Dublin we'd generally put a man in charge and he manages and away he goes. It's only when he has problems or we have problems we'd have to sit down and talk.
"But no, Jim just did his job - and I suppose without speculating or anything else he waited until he had his mind definitely made up and decided it was time to hand over. That's what he did."
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
