John Maughan became the first inter-county managerial casualty of the season when he resigned as Roscommon football manager on Monday night. Maughan, along with his selectors Eamon McManus and Gerry Fitzmaurice, quit their posts after a miserable NFL Division 2 campaign which saw the Connacht county suffer humiliating defeats to Monaghan, Armagh and Westmeath which leaves them facing up to the prospect of Division 3 football next season. Maughan came in for strong criticism from sections of the Roscommon support after Sunday's 11-point defeat to Westmeath in Kiltoom, and responded in a TV interview by referring to those supporters as "customers". Roscommon county board issued a statement on Monday night confirming that Maughan's reign, which lasted less than two-and-a-half years, had come to an end. It read: "It is with regret that the Management Committee of Roscommon county board accept the resignation of the senior football management team of John Maughan and his selectors Eamon McManus and Gerry Fitzmaurice. "He was ably assisted in all his work by his fellow selectors Eamon McManus and Gerry Fitzmaurice. They represent all that is good in the GAA in Roscommon and their contribution at senior level will be greatly missed." The statement went on to condemn the personal abuse that John Maughan, his selectors and their families have been subjected to in the recent past. "The instigators of this abuse do not represent the genuine Roscommon supporter and are not welcome as Roscommon supporters at our games. "The Management Committee will now seek to put in place an interim management team for our senior footballers for the remainder National League and forthcoming championship." It is believed that former midfielder Fergal O'Donnell, who guided Roscommon to a famous All-Ireland minor success two years ago, is being lined up to take over. Tweet

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