Mayo ‘veterans’ may stay on with Moran
It took the county board 11 weeks to find John Maughan's successor and it has now emerged some John Maughan's successor and it has now emerged some three or four-year basis.
The reasoning was that if the new manager got that much time he would break up the current team.
Players around the 30-mark had little appetite for such a prospect and an intermediary informed the county board of their feelings.
The Mayo squad is actually quite youthful but some of their more important faces like Ciaran McDonald (29), James Nallen (31) and Gary Ruane (33) are edging towards the end of their careers.
It remains to be seen who will commit for 2006 but only two weeks ago Ruane spoke of his belief that Mayo were close to an All-Ireland, adding that a new manager might be the spark needed.
The arrival of Moran and John Morrison will also give new hope to Mayo clubs who felt their players didn't get a fair crack of the whip under the previous regime.
Despite being county champions in 2003, Ballina had only one man Ronan McGarrity on the starting 15 for last year's All-Ireland final. The team went on to reclaim its title and add Connacht and national crowns.
With a new man, everyone gets the chance to start afresh," said county secretary Sean Feeney.
However, Feeney expects grumbles over the appointment of a non-county man and Tommy Jordan of Crossmolina and Swinford nominee Kieran Gallagher are known to have impressed in the interview process.
Feeney admitted that John O'Mahony and Brian McEniff were the board's preferred options before Morrison informed them of Moran's availability.
The board will now focus on appointing a new U21 boss, the aim being the new man will eventually lead the senior team.
A third member of the senior management is yet to be confirmed. This will be a Mayo native with local knowledge.
This position will be filled by mid-November.
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