Jim McGuinness held talks with Dundalk this week as the Lilywhites close in on their next manager.
And Donegal’s All-Ireland winning boss is among the contenders to succeed Filippo Giovagnoli at Oriel Park.
“I spoke to Jim, yeah, I did,” confirmed the club's sporting director and interim manager Jim Magilton.
“I’ve always been a huge fan. I’ve always loved GAA and I liked his approach to Donegal. A winning brand. I was also over at Celtic a few times.”
While McGuinness is best known as a top GAA manager, he coached in Celtic’s underage structures before joining Chinese club Beijing Sinobo Guoan as assistant in 2017.
And in late 2018, the Pro Licence candidate was named as head coach of American outfit Charlotte Independence but was sacked in June 2019.
Asked if MGuinness would be a radical appointment considering his stronger GAA background, Magilton said: “Of course. But it's not the angle I take from it.
“There are so many crossovers in sport, so many things you can take from other sports.
“I treat these guys with the utmost respect. They’ve been at the highest end; they’ve dealt with pressure.
“They know how to get the very best out of their individuals and teams. Always worth a conversation. I’m a huge admirer of people able to do that.
“I listened to Sir Alex talking to Gary Neville the other day. It was a fascinating insight into top end sport.
“Anything that you can do to get a little edge to help players get that edge, it’s worth talking to these people, worth examining them.”
Magilton confirmed that Dundalk are now at the shortlist stage for a new manager, adding: “We’re definitely closing in on that. It’ll make the job easier.
“Any good news story would be good news for the club at the moment, wouldn’t it? Jim has been a successful manager, albeit in a different sport.
“It’s just conversations and I’ve spoken to other people who’ve given me another perspective on elite level sport.”
Magilton denied that McGuinness is already signed, sealed and delivered.
“We haven’t selected anyone,” claimed the former QPR and Ipswich Town boss who leads Dundalk into tonight’s clash with champions Shamrock Rovers.
And Magilton added that Dundalk are unlikely to make any appointment this side of the league’s summer which begins tomorrow week.
Quizzed about the ‘conversations’ he has had with prospective managers this week, Magilton said: “Just conversations out of professional respect.”
He claimed the club was not yet at the formal interview stage and added: “People called me and we've had really good conversations about all things football.
“When you're talking to, in my opinion, leading coaches you can pick their brains too and I've picked their brains.”
