Joe Brolly gives x-rated verdict on Paddy Tally’s expected appointment as Derry manager

News that Paddy Tally is expected to be ratified as the new Derry senior football manager on Thursday night has not gone down well with Joe Brolly.

The former Sunday Game pundit was an outspoken critic of Mickey Harte’s appointment last season and he took aim at the Derry county board earlier this week when it emerged that Tally was being linked up to replace his fellow Tyrone native.

Posting on X, Brolly wrote: “Derry board going through the phone book of Tyrone managers. Shameful lack of loyalty to their own. Shameful lack of integrity.”

Read more: Paddy Tally: Tyrone native set to leave Kerry role to take over as Derry manager

Read more: Karl Lacey lauds “exciting” return of Donegal legend Michael Murphy following retirement u-turn

Now that it seems certain that Tally will be the man to succeed Harte, Brolly has taken to social media to double-down on his criticism of the Derry County Board for appointing another outside manager.

He wrote: “Applicants invited for post of Derry senior football manager. Applicants must not be from Derry or give one f**k about the county and its people.”

Last year, Brolly reacted in a similar manner to news of Harte’s appointment. Speaking on his ‘Free State’ podcast, he stated: “He's (Harte) a stranger to us and shouldn't be near us. The Derry Board is a caravan of fools. F**k them and f**k Mickey Harte."

The former Tyrone and Louth manager stepped down in July after just one year in charge following a disappointing Championship campaign.

Derry won the Division One title in the spring, but underperformed in the Championship, losing to Donegal in the first round of the Ulster Championship before bowing out to Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.

A host of names had been linked to the Derry job including Karl Lacey, James Horan, Peter Keane and Mark Doran while attempts to reinstate Rory Gallagher proved unsuccessful.

Tally coached Tyrone to their maiden All-Ireland title in 2003 and won a Sigerson Cup as St Mary’s manager in 2017.

He also managed Down and coached Galway before spending three seasons with Kerry, winning an All-Ireland in his first season as coach in 2022.

Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox