Ex-Mayo bosses had "every right to be upset"
November 30, 2015
Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.
Mayo secretary Vincent Neary revisits the controversy surrounding the exit of Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly as joint Mayo football managers in his report to next Sunday's county convention in Ballina.
Neary admits the vote of no confidence passed in Holmes and Connelly by the Mayo players caused "shock and confusion", and believes the duo had "every right to be upset by the events". The secretary's comments come ahead of tonight's county board meeting which is set to ratify Stephen Rochford as Mayo's new manager.
"What happened in the aftermath of that defeat (the All-Ireland semi-final replay against Dublin) came as a shock. The players met with the management and told them that the panel had a meeting and had decided that they no longer had confidence in the management," Neary writes.
"No reasons were given which left everyone confused. The joint managers Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes were left really with no option but resign, which they did very promptly. Their swift decision saved a lot of public debate.
"They are very proud Mayo men and out of loyalty to this county they took their decision. They were deeply hurt by what had happened and they have every right to be upset by the events. They have families and lots of pride and to see their names and pictures spread across media pages is not their style.
"They expected to build on that foundation in their next season. However, they did not get that chance and I would like to thank both for their contribution to this county, not alone to the senior team in 2015, but for all they had done for this county in the past.
"I wihs them both well and hope that they go on to have lots more involvement in this organisation in the future."
Sunday's convention will be JP Lambe's last as treasurer after 20 years in the role, with former secretaries Sean Feeney and Kevin O'Toole nominated to succeed him. Aiden McLoughlin is also stepping down as PRO under the five-year rule, with Paul Cunnane, Enda Munnelly, Tom Reynolds and Brendan Geraghty in the running to take over.
Tweet
