Jim McGuinness is among the favourites become the next Finn Harps manager following the departure of Ollie Horgan. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Jim McGuinness is among the favourites become the next Finn Harps manager following the departure of Ollie Horgan.

Horgan, who was the longest serving boss in the league with a nine-year stint, left the Donegal club by mutual agreement after they were relegated from the Premier Division.

McGuinness led his native Donegal to All-Ireland glory in 2012 when they defeated Mayo in the final.

According to the Irish Independent, McGuinness is open to taking a role in the League of Ireland and is on the radar of Harps as they consider possible candidates. However, it remains to be seen if the Harps project would appeal to him, with McGuinness asserting last week that he would be very careful about his next step.

McGuinness worked with Celtic FC before a stint in China as an assistant manager. That led to a short-lived stay in charge of US side Charlotte Independence in 2019.

He is in the process of completing his pro licence and has worked with the Derry City underage set-up, while eyeing up various senior roles in the league without anything coming to fruition.

In his younger days, McGuinness had a brief stint on the Harps backroom team, working under Anthony Gorman in 2006.