Horan has no intention of walking away from Mayo
The Ballintubber man met county board officials last week to review the season and will meet with them again tomorrow night in Castlebar where he will discuss next season’s plans.
Horan’s future in the job has been in doubt since September’s one-point loss to Dublin in the All-Ireland final. However, the Irish Examiner understands he never intended to step down.
It is believed the various personal issues highlighted as possible impediments to his role were minimal factors and were quickly addressed.
Speculation grew following last week’s meeting where the issue of his future was not discussed but it is understood both parties believed he wouldremain in the role.
Tomorrow’s meeting with county board chairman Paddy McNicholas, vice-chairman Mike Connelly, secretary Vincent Neary, treasurer JP Lambe and PRO Aiden McLoughlin will finalise any outstanding issues from last season and centre on the make-up of Horan’s backroom team for next season. This process has been repeated each year of the former All Star’s tenure.
Horan is also believed to have met with his backroom team at the weekend and is awaiting full confirmation of their availability next season. There are expected to be changes, though as yet it is unclear whether James Nallen, who has given three years’ exceptional service to the set-up, can commit. However the majority of the team, including Donie Buckley, Tom Prendergast and Ed Coughlan, will remain in place.
Meanwhile, Tomás Ó Flatharta has been ratified as the new Laois senior football manager after he was voted in at last night’s meeting of the Laois county board.
The former Westmeath and Galway manager met with little resistance from club delegates, who passed through the Kerryman with little debate.
Jerome Stack, who was involved with the Dromcollogher-Broadford side which won the Limerick SFC title on Sunday, will be on board as a coach. Fergal Byron and Noel Garvan, both Leinster SFC winners with Laois in 2003, have been appointed as selectors.
Laois chairman Gerry Kavanagh told delegates he was “very confident we have gotten the right man for the job”. Ó Flatharta has been appointed on a three-year term, which will be reviewed at the end of each year.
