I'm looking for a better way to allow the user to manage global content (for example a list of links at the footer of a website template that are the same throughout the website).

I'm still using workarounds and/or hacks to support this. The most effective approach I've found is to create a special page type, let's say 'FooterLinks', remove all of the tabs inside FooterLinks.php, and only allow them a DataObjectManager to control this list of links. I also hide it from menu and searches as well.

I've tried ModelAdmin but this is really lacking in object control (Drag n drop sorting etc) and has poor list-view. It just doesn't seem like a good fit.

Anyone have any suggestions on this?

The main problem I see with the approach i'm using is that it well allow you to visit the page, i.e. www.example.com/footerlinks/ and it's also visible in www.example.com/sitemap.xml

Please advise!

@Ranie you can use the SiteConfig panel to add areas for global information - http://doc.silverstripe.org/sapphire/en/reference/siteconfig

Not sure how well it supports DataObjectManager etc but for text information it's good.