Former Fermanagh player Ryan McCluskey is in no doubt that Malachy O’Rourke will be a sought after man following his decision to step down as manager of Monaghan after seven years at the helm of the Farneymen.

O’Rourke informed his players of his decision right after their All Ireland Qualifier defeat to Armagh in Clones on Saturday evening but McCluskey, who played under O’Rourke when he was in charge of Fermanagh from 2008 to 2010, doesn’t think it will be the last time he will be seen on the sideline.

“Malachy might decide to have a bit of a break but he is a football man and he will be back and I have no doubt that he will be a sought after man, there will be plenty of offers for him,” said McCluskey.

The Derrylin native led Monaghan to two Ulster titles in his time at charge and was a whisker away from steering them to an All Ireland final last year before they eventually lost out to Tyrone in the semi-final. His success with Monaghan came as no great surprise though to Enniskillen Gaels man McCluskey.

“Malachy showed during his time with Fermanagh how good a manager he is and I would have loved if he had stayed on longer with us. Players enjoy playing for him and he is a players man.

“He took the lessons he learnt from Fermanagh and brought them to Monaghan and he transformed them.

“I wasn’t at all surprised to see him winning Ulster titles with them and I think the results he has got there over the last seven years shows the brilliant job that he and his backroom team has done,” he added.