Questions raised over Mayo GAA managerial appointment policy

by Patrick Hennelly

A former chairman of Mayo GAA Mike Connelly has questioned the organisation's current policy of appointing a Mayo senior football manager - stating it is not working.

In the context of the recent appointment of Andy Moran as manager, the Hollymount Carramore clubman elaborated: “At the very start of the process, we were presented with polices and the polices only went so far, and it didn’t cover the problems that you have at the minute where the board can’t go and recruit.

“There are a number of issues and it didn’t tick all the boxes.”

Mr. Connelly continued: “People who are close to people going for the position should have stepped back from it.

“It is all about doing the job right and not being fodder for media. It is important that we revisit that policy and give the opportunity to the board and allow the clubs to nominate people. It is hugely important going forward.

“There are people now who won’t put their names forward for the job in the future, as they apply in good faith and if they don’t get the job then perhaps their career is jeopardised going forward.

“It is important that we revisit that policy (management appointment), tear it up and start again, and make sure that we tick all the boxes and that the board aren’t left with two candidates.”

In the lead-up to the Mayo senior management appointment, it appeared that there were only two clear front-runners for the position, Tony McEntee and Andy Moran.

However, it has since been revealed that there were four candidates who applied for the Mayo senior manager’s position.

Mr. Connelly concluded: “We were told that there were only two candidates applying for the job (Mayo senior manager).

“However, at the last county board meeting we were told that there were a number of candidates.”