Kevin McStay has had his say on the controversy over the Mayo manager's job after being overlooked for the position in favour of the joint ticket of Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes. In his column for the Herald, McStay said that despite the public nature of the rejection he was still glad he applied for the job. He said:
Having put my hand up for consideration for the job of Mayo senior football manager, I was perched uncomfortably in the gaze of the Mayo public.
So, when the rejection came, as it did last Saturday, it was very public. But despite the massive disappointment felt, I'm glad I went for the vacancy.
Managing my own county was a long held ambition of mine - many will not realise I went for the position way back in 1996, but no joy then either.
This time around, I felt I had served my apprenticeship. Stints in charge of the Roscommon minors, the Mayo U21s, and , of course, St Brigid's All-Ireland club winners in 2013, had given me the confidence to believe I could manage at the elite level
McStay then called upon Mayo supporters to support the new managerial team but defended Liam McHale, who would have been a part of McStay's staff had he got the job, after he had apparently been criticised by some within the current side. Said McStay:
Apparently, some players and members of James Horan's managerial structure had a problem with some of the comments he (McHale) made over a period of time in a local newspaper. God love them if their sensitivities were a little bruised.
But I must make it clear to all: having worked at all levels of the game for more than 30 years. I have yet to meet or work with a better coach.
