Billy Joe Padden says Mayo must retain the services of James Horan after he steps down as county senior football manager.

The former Mayo and Armagh footballer points out that Horan has completely transformed Mayo football and, as such, believes it is imperative that the County Board keeps him in the loop for many years to come:

"James Horan has changed the culture of Mayo football completely," Padden states in The Irish Examiner. "He has transformed not only how the team play and perform but how players talk of themselves and people think of them.

"For that reason, whenever he steps away from being manager, I believe it's vital that he is kept on in some position where he can still offer something to Mayo football. It's quite obvious he has a lot to give. What he's done in his four years has been incredible."

"The consistency of performance is greater in this Mayo team than any Mayo team has had. They have been in Division 1 each year without ever going full pelt and then come the summer they raise the performance again, and have won big games.

"To beat Cork in an All-Ireland quarter-final and not play well, despite being favourites - that's unheard of for a Mayo team. They are favourites for this game against the Munster champions in Kerry, a team that has beaten Mayo heavily in the past, and yet a lot of Mayo fans are going to Dublin not overly confident but they have faith in this team that they can get to another All-Ireland final."

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