A FORMER Mayo star has firmly backed embattled bosses Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes ahead of crunch talks with disgruntled players on Thursday.
Eugene McHale, who scored a famous goal for the Connacht men in the 1981 All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry, said on Wednesday he was “very disappointed” at the stance reportedly taken by around 75 per cent of the panel in having a vote of no confidence in the management. In their first season in the role, the management duo brought Mayo to a fifth Connacht success in as many years before losing to eventual champions Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.
It emerged earlier this week that a majority of players called for a change at the helm at a meeting in Breaffy GAA club on September 19. McHale claimed the players’ stance was connected to some changes in the county’s backroom team.
“As a former player, I do not like criticising other players, but I feel the Mayo players have got this one badly wrong," said McHale.
“This Mayo team demolished Sligo in the Connacht final, played a brilliant tactical match against Donegal and almost beat the All-Ireland champions in the All-Ireland semi-final. Of course, nobody gets everything right, but this team has come very close for Mayo and the management should be given another chance. For the players to make this move without any real reason is a bit bizarre also.”
He added: “I believe it has much more to do with some changes to the backroom team last year.
“Last year, some of them did not want Liam McHale in the backroom team, so I am asking the question what do they want?”
It is believed Connolly and Holmes are determined to weather the storm and stay in their posts.
