James Horan opens up on Mayo player row

The Mayo footballers do not need to explain why they voted ‘no confidence’ in Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly, according to James Horan.

In his first public comment since the crisis erupted last week, the former Mayo manager called for all parties in the impasse to move forward together.

He described the vote of ‘no confidence’ in Holmes and Connelly as high risk and potentially career-ending for certain members of the Mayo panel.

“I think it was a hugely courageous step by the players, one they must have known was very high risk, hugely divisive and potentially career-ending for some,” Horan wrote in yesterday’s Western People.

“This would have been discussed in some detail with all options and avenues explored. This was not a decision that was taken lightly and the players would have known they were leaving themselves open to public opprobrium by embarking on such a course of action. It put them in a position of ridicule and increased focus.

“I am not sure the players have a masterplan of what’s next. The players were in a place that was dark and they could not see the road. They needed to clear the way, lift the weights and deal with things first.”

He continued: “There have been calls for the reasons of the ‘no confidence’ vote to be laid bare, for the players to issue some sort of explanatory statement so that all can see and understand the reasons why this event had to happen. I think this would be the completely wrong thing to do at this stage, especially with the process now having entered an entirely new phase. The players have made their decision. Noel and Pat have resigned. It is time to take this off the front and back pages.

“The only discussion that needs to happen is with the players and county board chairman. It needs to happen in private to move things on.”

Horan does not believe it was the intention of the players to cause public hurt for Holmes and Connelly.

“The players will feel terrible about the way things have unfolded. The players are also very genuine guys, who, in my opinion, would never look to publicly humiliate people.

“These guys are looking everywhere for anything, any fine margins that will support their constant drive for improvement. Sometimes there are consequences to this relentlessness that are not always positive for everyone.

“For it to get to this, there are a number of things that must be wrong in the process. Everything needs to be looked at that led to this outcome, not the just the outcome itself.”

Meanwhile Tipperary championship favourites, Clonmel Commercials, who knocked out holders Loughmore-Castleiney in the quarter-final last Sunday, were last night drawn against the winners of Eire Og Anacarty v Aherlow Gaels in the Tipperary senior football semi-finals. The other semi-final pairs Arravale Rovers against Moyle Rovers.

The delayed quarter-final between Eire Og Anacarty and Aherlow Gaels takes place tomorrow evening at New Inn.