Stephen Rochford is being hotly tipped as the Mayo manager of the future, but one from the past has had his say on the players’ heave.
Having led them to four Connacht titles and two All-Ireland finals no one knows the Mayo panel better than James Horan and, writing in this week’s Western People, the former manager described their vote of no confidence against Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly as “hugely courageous”.
In fact, Horan believes the players took the vote knowing well that it had the potential to end some of their intercounty careers.
“I think it was a hugely courageous step by the players, one they must have known was very high risk, hugely divisive and potentially career-ending for some.
“This would have been discussed in some detail with all options and avenues explored. This was not a decision that was taken lightly and the players would have known they were leaving themselves open to public opprobrium by embarking on such a course of action. It put them in a position of ridicule and increased focus.
“I am not sure the players have a masterplan of what’s next. The players were in a place that was dark and they could not see the road. They needed to clear the way, lift the weights and deal with things first.”
Horan dismissed as “completely wrong” calls for the players to make public their reasons for seeking the removal of Holmes and Connelly.
“I think this would be the completely wrong thing to do at this stage, especially with the process now having entered an entirely new phase. The players have made their decision. Noel and Pat have resigned. It is time to take this off the front and back pages.
“The only discussion that needs to happen is with the players and county board chairman. It needs to happen in private to move things on.”
“The players will feel terrible about the way things have unfolded. The players are also very genuine guys, who, in my opinion, would never look to publicly humiliate people.
“These guys are looking everywhere for anything, any fine margins that will support their constant drive for improvement. Sometimes there are consequences to this relentlessness that are not always positive for everyone.
“For it to get to this, there are a number of things that must be wrong in the process. Everything needs to be looked at that led to this outcome, not the just the outcome itself.”
Despite being mentioned in early speculation over who would replace the ousted duo, Horan has at this stage expressed no interest in returning to the post he filled from 2011 to 2014.
Instead Corofin manager Rochford is a firm favourite with bookmakers to succeed Connelly and Holmes. The Crossmolina native led the Galway club to an All-Ireland title on St Patrick’s Day and they will be looking to defend their Galway SFC title at Tuam Stadium this Sunday when they take on Mountbellew-Moylough.
