Stephen Rochford announced his resignation as Mayo manager on Monday evening after three years in charge of the county's senior footballers. The announcement came less than a year after Rochford had agreed on an extension to his term which was due to run until 2020.
Former Donegal manager Jim McGuinness is among the favourites to succeed Rochford. A fortnight ago, the Irish Sun reported that if Rochford decided to end his term early, the county board were keen to bring in McGuinness.
Speaking on Off The Ball on Monday night, former Mayo footballer David Brady said that he believes McGuinness would not be the right appointment if the county board wishes to ensure the long-term health of Mayo football.
"It's becoming an absolute joke," Brady said regarding the Mayo management situation.
This juncture is not a time for naming names but I can tell you Jim McGuinness is neither next nor here associated with Mayo football. I know that.
Mayo's next appointment will be for someone that is there to developing and needs to be developing Mayo football not just for the next six months or 12 months.
I think Mayo need to step back and away from saying, 'We want to win an All-Ireland'. We want to do the very best that we can. We want to put everything in place that we can to win it but the structures need to be in place.
It's not because of the name Jim McGuinness. I think a guy coming into town, all guns blazing is not what Mayo need; we need a plan and we need someone that's going to be there for the next three or four years. That's never guaranteed in Mayo football.
Brady also alluded to problems within Mayo football, calling on Rochford and another former manager, James Horan, to speak out about any issues they had while in charge.
"Ask James Horan what was the real story because the longer that Mayo managers keep their lips sealed and are afraid to reveal the truth, the longer this will continue.
"I'm not saying the county board [are not up to it]. The county board is a word. It's an amalgamation of people at the top table.
"There's different people, different chairmen between Stephen Rochford's time and James Horan's time.
"If there's something rotten in the state of Denmark, it needs to be pointed out because otherwise, yes, the county board will get the blame.
"If you don't point out what's wrong, tell us what's wrong and prove it, well then it's always going to continue."
Picture credit: Sportsfile
