Horan reveals grand plan

NEW Mayo senior football boss James Horan yesterday outlined his plans to restore Mayo to former glories after a disastrous championship season which saw them exit the 2010 championship before the end of June.

The Ballintubber manager also revealed he intends to place the Mayo footballers at “the centre of the whole structure” over the next three years as he tries to rebuild confidence in the county.

“Mayo football is probably not in a great place. I remember when I started playing with Mayo in ‘95 it wasn’t in a great place either. But in the space of nine months we were in an All-Ireland final. I’m not mentioning All-Ireland finals or saying that we’ll be there but, sometimes in Mayo, we overdo the highs and we overdo the lows.

“If we set the environment right, get the right character and mix of players in there, we’ll see what happens from there. Sometimes, I think the players and the back-room structures have been forgotten about. What I will look to do is to ensure that the players are at the centre of the whole structure. They are the guys we need to give every single resource we can for them to develop and improve.’’

Meanwhile defeated Mayo managerial candidate Tommy Lyons has ruled out any future involvement for himself at inter-county level.

“I couldn’t see myself being involved again as an inter-county manager. I only allowed my name to go forward for the Mayo job because I have such a strong affinity with, and passion for, the county, having spent so much time there. Over the last five to six years I have been approached by a number of counties, and once again this year, but I turned them all down because I have no desire to become a paid inter-county manager on the road.”