“I met the guys behind the scenes.”
Dublin legend Philly McMahon has revealed that he had the chance to succeed Mickey Harte as Derry manager, before the role went to Paddy Tally last November.
Speaking on the GAA Social podcast, the eight-time All-Ireland winner said: “I met the guys behind the scenes from Derry and they came down to me and offered me the job.
“I had to go through a couple of things, I had to get the right people with me, I had to speak to my wife and I have a three-year-old so they were my priority first of all.
“I spoke to a couple of bodies that I had an interest in bringing in and basically I was a couple of days from giving that decision and the guys that I was talking to basically said, ‘Paddy’s looking to take the job’.
“I just said to the guys, ‘if there’s somebody 100% in then you’re better off giving it to them because they’re 100%, I’m not’.”
McMahon also revealed that the offer, although not taken, has spurred him on for a career in inter-county management.
He added: “It was a very interesting opportunity. The support behind the scenes seems very good and that’s what enticed me but maybe it has set me up for the next opportunity.
“I’d like to try, I’d like to dip my toe in [to inter-county management]. I’m really passionate about performance coaching and that’s sort of management in itself.
“It’s something I’ve done in all my career, the fitness industry and managing people, trying to get the best out of people, which I think as a coach or manager you have to do.”
