Horan: Mayo will win Sam

Mayo manager James Horan is adamant his side have the ambition and ability to become All-Ireland champions.

Horan met with county board officials at Castlebar last night to lay out plans for the upcoming season. Chief amongst them was ending Mayo’s 62-year wait for an All-Ireland SFC title.

After guiding the county to three Connacht titles and two All-Ireland finals during his term, the Ballintubber native will enter his fourth season at the helm intent on completing the mission he started.

“Nothing has changed, the ambition of this squad is stronger than ever and we will power on with everything we have,” Horan said.

“We will never stop striving to be better. This is an everyday thing with this unit. There has been a lot of things written and said about my role but I’ve always been committed to this mission.

“It’s only a month since the All-Ireland final and myself and the Mayo management team have been keeping our heads down, working on our plans and making sure we can make that extra step next year.

“The bottom line is that we’re very, very close right now. The players realise that and none of us are going to stop.”

However the speculation about his role and the rumours circulating within the county about breakdowns within the team have annoyed Horan and the players.

“What was the story?” he asked. “Every rumour I heard was completely and utterly untrue. This was upsetting for both the players and management. Yet it has to be accepted for what it was — complete nonsense.

“Show me a player or management quote anywhere that substantiates anything. Anyway enough is enough, there is work to do.

“We are already deep in planning for the 2014 season and as a team we are already working on trials, skills tests, nutritional and medical assessments which are all being planned.”

A major part of that process is the review of the season. The management team are conducting individual gap analyses, a business technique which compares the team’s current situation with the future state they want to achieve, to assess how they can improve for next season.

It follows the familiar mantra used within the squad since Horan was appointed — improvement.

“As a squad, we will be meeting soon to plot our course. I met with the rest of the backroom team at the weekend and I’ve got to say the drive and energy was incredible,” he said.

“There were ideas flying about the room and the enthusiasm was infectious.”

However Horan confirmed that James Nallen will not be part of next year’s backroom team due .

“James has been an inspirational figure and, having played 132 competitive games for Mayo, his experience was something we could always turn to. Replacing a real legend in Mayo football won’t be easy.”

However replace him they must and Horan has met several candidates to fulfil the role vacated by Nallen. Meanwhile, there is also expected to be new blood within the panel following Mayo’s All-Ireland MFC success and a collection of impressive performances in the county’s club championships over the past few weeks.

“There is a lot of talent in the county and we’ve been looking at a lot of players. Some of the minors are fantastic footballers and they’re a credit to the county.

“The club championships have been interesting too. We’ve been at many games and had scouts at other matches and a few lads put their hands up, so we’ll be bringing them into the squad to see if they can cut it.

“Right now, we just can’t wait to get cracking. It’s a pity the season is so far away because we can’t wait for it all to begin again.”