Mayo’s plight only gets worse...

THEY’VE had books written about their defeats, songs dedicated to their now 50-year search for an All-Ireland senior title and are depicted as the Buffalo Bills of Gaelic football but the funereal fascination with Mayo is set to go into overdrive over the next two days.

As the reigning All-Ireland and league champions Cork travel to Castlebar tomorrow afternoon, relegation is a distinct possibility for James Horan’s side.

Lying sixth just one point above the drop zone, if Monaghan get a result against Kerry, Mayo are destined for a do-or-die scrap with the Ulster side next weekend.

While there have been flashes of progress in the team’s campaign namely against Kerry and Galway, there hasn’t been enough to suggest Connacht will avoid being without any representation in the top-flight next year as Galway themselves already look doomed.

However, as much as demotion to Division 2 may appear to be the latest insult to this proud football county, Monday evening’s county board meeting is set to have a more telling effect on Mayo GAA.

The ambitious five-year strategic plan finally comes in front of the board after an extensive period of debate and no shortage of controversy.

Chaired by Liam Horan, the committee charged with devising the plan have included proposals such as the creation of a worldwide supporters club and the appointments of a football coaching and separate commercial director.

Commissioned in the aftermath of the embarrassing All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Longford last year, there is a genuine recognition that Mayo GAA has a problem.

The statistics released in the committee’s document to the clubs on Thursday as an appendage to their plan underline that. Since 1989, Mayo teams have reached 16 All-Ireland finals, losing a whopping 15 of them.

However, the plan has been charged with accusations of being far-fetched. The trouble started when the county board unsuccessfully attempted to postpone the launch of the plan as they argued parts of it were in breach of GAA rule.

They are believed to be ready to support part of the plan now though.

According to the committee, they have only received written clarification from the board about the proposal which suggests exploring “feasibility and desirability of direct elections for the position of county chairperson”.

County chairman Paddy McNicholas and secretary Sean Feeney have taken exception with the committee’s contention that it’s a case of endorsing all of their recommendations or none at all.

However, in the aforementioned document, the committee point out: “Our aim has always been to put our report in front of a full meeting of Mayo GAA Board.

“This was explicitly stated at the outset. We consulted widely throughout the process and invited contributions from all and sundry.

“However, once we finalised our plan, it was never our intention to amend it again. It would then no longer represent our view on the way forward for Mayo GAA. We wished to produce a truly independent report, as per our remit.”

Horan vehemently argues the committee have not acted above their station.

“We would dispute that. At the outset, we outlined with the agreement of the executive what 10 areas we would look at, launch the report, create a debate then go to the board for a vote on it.

“Before the launch, we met with the chairman and showed him the draft plan. Then the issue arose where the board executive tried to call off the launch. They didn’t give us sufficient reason and we succeeded in going ahead with it.

“We asked them to show us what rules we were breaching but they’ve only come back to us on one issue. We said in the report Mayo GAA should lobby to change the rules that need changing for the plan to be put into action.

“If we feel we need a commercial director then we should go lobby for it to happen. Basically, get it done. Mayo GAA should be at the head of innovation.

“We believe we have followed the terms of our agreement. In the questions and answers document we have released to the clubs, we reveal the proposal of a global supporters’ club could generate as much as €850,000 per annum.”

Horan remains positive about the clubs realising the merits of the plan.

“We’re hoping the club delegates adopt the plan. The executive will likely propose to back 70% of the plan and if that happens it will fall to the clubs, whether they want to back the plan in its entirety or not.

“We’ve put our report out there for discussion. We’re happy with the work we have done and that we have acted in accordance with the brief we were given.”

As for Mayo’s fortunes tomorrow, there is a prominent feeling in the county that Division 2 football mightn’t be the worst thing.

Away from the glare of the TV cameras (six of Mayo’s seven games will have been broadcast by the end of the league), the necessary rebuilding work can be done in a more apt, less pressurised environment.

It’s a long-term job for Horan as well as for Mayo. But when there are rows about where to put the first brick, there will be stagnancy.

McGarrity to miss Mayo league run-in

RONAN McGARRITY will miss the remainder of Mayo’s Allianz NFL Division 1 campaign.

The Ballina Stephenites man saw a specialist on Wednesday in Dublin after bowing out of last week’s training with Achilles problems on both legs. The news was not good and, citing extreme wear. The midfielder was put in a cast up to his knee which he will be in for the next three weeks.

The news is a blow to Mayo manager James Horan as his 2008 captain will miss tomorrow’s clash against Cork and the likely relegation decider against Monaghan. McGarrity is expected back in training once the cast comes off.