Mayo coach Barry Solan set to link up with Arsenal

Local reports in Mayo last night claimed the county footballers’ strength and conditioning coach Barry Solan is to work with Arsenal at the end of the championship.

Solan is set to be appointed as a S&C coach with the Premier League outfit where former Ireland rugby players Jerry Flannery and Johnny O’Connor have previously worked in placement positions.

Ex-Ireland doctor Gary O’Driscoll is the club’s current medic.

Ballaghaderreen man Solan has previously worked with the Poland international team as well as the Laois footballers.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough are hoping to pull off a sensational swoop to bring Stewart Downing back to Teesside this week.

Boro are in talks with West Ham over the 30-year-old England international, who began his career with his home-town club after emerging as one of its Academy’s star graduates.

It is understood the player would not be averse to a return to the Riverside Stadium if he proves surplus to requirement at Upton Park as new manager Slaven Bilic re-shapes his squad.

However, should that be the case, Sunderland, with whom Downing had a loan spell earlier in his career, too have an interest in him and they can offer him Premier League, rather than Championship football.

In addition, if finance is an issue —Downing has been paid handsomely during his spell in London — the top-flight club has more muscle at its disposal having managed to stave off relegation once again last season.