Liam McHale says a difference in opinion about the style of football Mayo should play led to him leaving the county's senior management team last month.
McHale, who is the brother-in-law of Mayo manager Kevin McStay, was part of a stellar backroom team along with Stephen Rochford, Donie Buckley and Damien Mulligan.
"It is difficult," former Mayo footballer McHale told Ballina Community Radio.
"There were five of us there and the four lads had a totally different philosophy on how this team should play than what I had.
"I was surprised at Kevin because normally we would be in sync. I just felt there is no point in me being there when I am so far removed from their thinking.
"I didn’t want to drag anybody down. I didn’t want to upset the flow of the whole thing. I thought it was the right thing to do.
"All we want to see as Mayo people is the likes of Aidan O'Shea, Cillian O'Connor lifting that Sam Maguire over their heads. That would be something."
2 January 2023; Mayo manager Kevin McStay, centre, with his selector Liam McHale, left, and his assistant manager Stephen Rochford during the challenge match between Mayo and Sligo at James Stephen's Park in Ballina, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
McHale added that he "really enjoyed getting to know" the current group of Mayo players.
'I feel for these Mayo lads'
"It was great because I wouldn’t have known most of the senior lads," he said.
"I would have known Conor Loftus from coaching him in basketball. I would have known Kevin McLoughlin from meeting him around the place, but I never had a chat with Aidan or Cillian or Diarmuid or Jason. I knew Stephen Coen, believe it or not, because he was a lifeguard.
"I was happy that I went in and got to know the boys. I’d like to think any of them could feel they could give me a call if they want any advice or to meet up for a coffee. I’d always be there for them because I know what they are at and I know what they are going through, especially the older fellas."
28 January 2023; Mayo selector Liam McHale speaks with Stephen Coen before the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Mayo and Galway at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
McHale added: "I feel for these Mayo lads. Aidan O’Shea, Cillian O’Connor and Diarmuid, Stephen. Jason who has retired and Kevin McLoughlin. Conor Loftus. They have played in double the number of All-Ireland finals I played in. I played in four if you count the draw. These guys have played in eight.
"I know how they feel. They are desperate to win. You are looking, 'Is this my last year? Is next year my last year? Are we going to win it' and you are nearly afraid to go.
"Aidan is playing 15 years now trying to win an All-Ireland. Obviously, I was involved with them last year, they are amazing human beings.
"It's so time consuming now what they are doing. They are putting in double the time that we putting and they just keep going. It's hard on them."
McHale believes that Mayo will win an All-Ireland again.
"I think in all the tight games we lose them in the last ten minutes," he said.
"That goes back to my time. We have been losing All-Ireland finals since 89 the same way. In the last ten minutes, we are not able to score and the opposition will score two or three points to get over the line.
"This current group of players, the older lads I've talked about, I have massive admiration for them when you consider the best team in the history of the game, the six-in-a-row Dubs, every team in the country was afraid of them except us.
"Our boys ran out on the pitch, rolled up the sleeves and said let’s go. We should have beaten them twice. It is game management down the stretch. In the last ten minutes it is game management and a lot of that has to come from the sideline as well.
"To put these guys in the position to get two points to win the game, to fall over the line instead of drawing or losing by one. Because it is frantic out there for players and that is when management has to be very strong and get the right guys in that can do the job and try and manipulate the game to get two scores in ten minutes."
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