Mickey Graham has stepped down as manager of the Cavan senior football team after five years at the helm.
Graham has opted not to see out the final year of his tenure after being handed a two-year extension last summer.
It believed Graham was close to walking away after the disappointed of losing last year’s Tailteann Cup final to Westmeath, but was handed a vote of confidence from the Cavan county board.
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The Cavan Gaels clubman guided the Breffnimen to the Ulster title in 2020 and he also led Longford’s Mullinalaghta to an historic Leinster club title in 2018.
While Cavan’s Championship campaign ended with an Ulster quarter-final loss to Armagh and a Tailteann Cup quarter-final defeat to Down, Cavan will play Division Two football next season after winning the Division Three crown in the Spring.
In a statement, the Cavan county board thanked him for leaving the team “in a strong position” for next year.
"After serious considerations, Mickey Graham has decided to step away from his role as Cavan senior football team manager,” the statement read.
"Mickey took charge of our senior footballers in 2019, during his term Cavan won an Ulster title, two Allianz Football League titles and competed in the inaugural Tailteann Cup final.
"Mickey is leaving Cavan GAA in a strong position where they will now be competing in Division Two in 2024.
"Mickey would like to thank the players and his backroom teams for their commitment and dedication over the past five years. He would also like to thank the county board and clubs for their outstanding support during that time.
"Mickey brought great passion to Cavan football as a player, development squad coach and manager.
"Cavan Co board would like to thank Mickey for his enormous contribution to Cavan football and Cavan GAA, especially during his time as manager of the senior football team. We congratulate him on his successes during his tenure and wish him every success in his future."
Cavan are the latest Ulster side to be in search of a new manager with Donegal also on the lookout for a replacement for interim boss Aidan O’Rourke.
Rory Kavanagh, a frontrunner for the job last year, has ruled himself out of the running this time around.
There also remains uncertainty about the futures of the Armagh and Tyrone management teams in the wake of their respective All-Ireland SFC quarter-final exits earlier this month.
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