Daniel Carey and Mike Finnerty
A NEW Mayo senior football manager should be in place ‘by the beginning of December’, according to County Board Secretary Vincent Neary.
The Bonniconlon clubman admitted that the original mid-November deadline would not now be met, and said the Board ‘cannot progress with the management issue’ until the ongoing mediation process is ‘tied down’.
The Mayo News understands that mediator/facilitator Martin Conroy met with approximately half the 2015 Mayo senior football panel last week, and is due to meet with the remainder before a ‘Mayo Team Charter’ is drawn up.
Mayo GAA officials say this document must be signed up to by all Mayo players, management and officials in future. A County Board meeting is expected to follow next week.
“If the mediation document is put before [delegates] and accepted, then they’ll give us guidance as to the interview process and how the next stage is moved on,” Neary replied when asked about plans to meet with sole managerial nominee Stephen Rochford.
Meanwhile, Corofin manager Rochford has confirmed that he will be staying with the defending All-Ireland club champions ‘for as long as they remain in the championship’.
Speaking to The Mayo News ahead of next Sunday’s Connacht Club SFC Final against Castlebar Mitchels, Rochford dismissed speculation that he would be stepping down from his post next weekend were Corofin to retain their provincial title.
