Good interview with Pàdraig. No straight jacket football for him.
When someone that close to the set-up is as baffled as the rest of us, by what has the rest of us baffled it's easy see why he's not involving himself .

I am livid this morning. Why wasn't all this county board nonsense left until after our games against tyrone and donegal. We need to be ready to support the team on saturday. Even if we loose against tyrone the big one is against donegal. Hopefully a good vocal support at the tyrone match.

This latest fiasco is truly bizarre.”we just wanted the 5 players to be living in comfortable conditions with plenty of nutrition “.The worst year ever in mayo football is truly upon us .calls for the chaos to return have been answered in more ways than one

Haven't posted in a while .
Wishing Kevin a speedy recovery .Mayo manager or perhaps Kerry and Dublin is one of the toughest jobs going. I was critical of Mayo after the Cavan game , more so the lack of long balls into Aiden .
The lack of intensity could possibly be put down to being physically and emotionally drained after the Galway defeat but the players need to take responsibility for that.
While is an open forum , there has been a constant criticism of Kevin and the management from a certain few on here since his appointment.
Some of it justified, some just bitter.
If an individual player was subject to constant and repeated criticism, the poster would get a wrap on the knuckles.
Just feel sorry for Kevin and his family.
We saw with Conor Loftus how valuable life is .
I've no doubt that there will be a new management team in place next season but until then why don't we go back to getting behind our Mayo players, like we used to do , regardless of success.

Listening to Padhraig on the GAA+ coverage is refreshing and he has been no way critical of the Mayo setup, very positive actually.

There is so much stuff out there now with Kevin's situation and now the come to Jesus talks with the Croke Park Hierarchy. I wouldn't have any issue with current board members as most are recently elected and are good football men. They inherited this S*** show. Very difficult for them to deal with that outside detractor.

Anyway I hope the test of this week is all about the prep for Saturday and putting in a big performance - its feels like its needed more so that ever for all involved...

Have to agree with others regarding the timing of this mess. There's a noxious odour coming from it all.

At the end of the day it's the players that has to perform on the field and since 1951 they have not done enough to bring Sam to Mayo. For at least the last 20 years the players have been well looked after and plenty of money spent on them but the book stops with them and they including Padraic failed to complete the job.

Sure why have a manager at all Culmore? Just send 15 lads out and if they're good enough, they'll win.

It would seem that the entire county board, delegates and all management teams should resign at the end of the year.
Before they do, they should each put forward a proposal to improve the team/board/committee they are on.

Anyone who doesn't have any ideas on how to do it better should not be permitted to re apply.

Each manager/delegate/coach should re apply with their plan for change shared to clubs - so the clubs can mandate their delegate to vote for them based on what they are planning to do to fix the mess their team/board/committee is in.

Any paid up club member should then be permitted to do similar (write up his/her proposals for the clubs to review) and vote on whom is best suited for the role.

In the above situation, the county would get genuine personnel who (a) have new ideas and (b) aren't afraid to put those ideas to scrutiny.

At the moment, we have a board and delegates, whom dont put forward any ideas for change, but seem to have loads of complaints to make. It should be no good ideas = no job

Appointing a CEO wont fix the problem unless (A) the structure on how things operate is changed and (b) their is a general consensus that having a CEO allows decisions are made (within a defined set of parameters) without seeking board approval for 90% of them.

The current structure is (24 people)

Uachtaran
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer
Public Relations Officer
Central Council Delegate
Connacht Council Delegate
Connacht Council Delegate
Children’s Officer
Cultural Officer
Planning & Training Officer
Coaching Officer
Hurling Board Chairman
East Board Chairperson
North Board Chairman
South Board Chairman
West Board Chairman
Bord na nOg Chairman
County Safety and Facilities Officer
Health and Wellbeing Officer
Insurance Officer

Offaly have 17 roles
Chairperson
Vice-Chairperson
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer
Public Relations Officer
Coaching Officer
Central Council Delegate
Leinster Council Delegate
Planning and Training Officer
Demographics Officer
Children's Officer
Cultural Officer
Coiste na nÓg Chairperson
Operations Manager

If Mayo need to save money, then they need to start with cutting the board down to roles that add value

Full time Roles (5 year contracts)
1. Chief Executive Officer (finance background)
2. Chief Operations Officer (Sports and management experience)

Elected Executive Officers (Voluntary) - 3 year term
3. Secretary (must have been a company secretary of company with similar turnover or greater)
4. Treasurer (must have been a treasurer of company with a similar turnover or greater)
5. Central Council Delegate (must have experience in GAA or as board member of large organization)
6. Connacht Council Delegate (football) (must have experience in GAA or as board member of medium sized organization)
7. Connacht Council Delegate (Hurling) (must be have played hurling at intercounty level)
8. Children’s Welfare Officer - (must have worked as teacher or social worker)
9. Cultural & irish language Officer (must be fluent in Irish)
10. Coaching & Referees Officer (must have minimum of award 2 qualification plus similar from another sport as well as having a refereeing qualification)
11. Fixtures Officer (must have experience in fixtures organisation at regional board level)
12. Hurling/Handball and Rounders Development Officer (must have played all three sports and hurling at inter county level)
13. Bord na nOg Chairman
14. Facilities Safety & development Officer (must have experience in design or construction of major sports facilities projects or worked as facilities manager in a large organisation)

Appointed Executive Officers (1 year term)
15. Ladies & camogie integration officer (appointed by Mayo ladies & camogie associations)
16. Regional boards officer (appointed by regional boards)
17. Clubs Representative (appointed by clubs)
18. Intercounty Players Representative (appointed by county panelists (U17, U20 & senior) from previous year)
20. Club Players Representative (appointed by club players)

Other full time non executive roles
PRO & social media Officer (must have experience in marketing via social media)
Bookkeeper

Time to change how things are done and use people who are trained and experienced in the roles that are required. A county board full of chairman and presidents is not a board that gets work done.

Well now.
I wish Kevin a speedy recovery.
As for the CB and us playing a little football
Well, let's forget about that.
What a shocking situation for us to be in Again.
and of course Nobody is Responsible once Again..

Its really bizarre, and unfortunately its national news about the county board, Burns made a point of praising the co board after the national league final...was odd at the time and it just gets stranger.

I was listening to the tommy marren show this morning and i have one question. Does any know where mayo gaa get the 25000 euros thay have to pay go croke park each month and where do they get the expense money to pay the mayo senior players and the considerable backroom team?

Tubberman, last time Sam came to Mayo 1951, there was no big management team, a few selectors and a panel of players who wanted to win.

Jimbo - I think if you look at accounts for last few years it will answer your question. There are multiple income streams. Accounts up to 2023 are on website

I heard that piece on the Tommy marren show .to my knowledge the clubs are burdened with this debt .Alot of unanswered questions though.jarlath burns making cryptic comments after the league final was also a very strange way of dealing with the situation

Pádraig O’Hora was excellent in his analysis on GAA+. Looks very fit and hopefully there will be more days in the green and red jersey of club and county.
Affairs of CB are an unfortunate distraction from team performance, which should be our focus as supporters.
Rochford's elevation to manager is unlikely to produce anything revolutionary on the football field.

A fascinating insight by O’Hora, very candid in a lot of things and really pulls no punches around the set up and how he would like Mayo to play.

Ontheditch.
I think Padraig said he’s planning on climbing Everest next year so not a chance he’ll be available to Mayo. He must think it’s an easier task than trying to win Sam.

Yes our clubs are carrying the debt through yearly levies which is an absolute disgrace in my opinion.

Mayo yet again experts at public humiliation.

What is the actual problem though , doesn’t seem to be anything as sensationalist as been made out , happens in every county , only difference in mayo is we have a horrible man who no more has a gra for mayo than the Roscommon barber paddy Joe orchestrating it .

This will either be the cement to bind the team together or the sledgehammer that smashes it to pieces.

Could he not climb Nephin instead?

God we are so dramatic. If anything is causing problems it's greed. Not the passion to win. When will we learn that a team or county which is divided is never going to achieve anything.
Smoke and daggers and no one can tell the truth from the stories.
I really despair sometimes cause it's like trying to make sense of Trump's actions...no sense at all.
Still I hope and still I rise...Mayo will arise.
Best of luck to our Mayo teams in the challenges ahead.
Who knows if Rochford might surprise us. He did half alright the last time...
Mayo God Help us.

@Ontheditch
Sure he climbs Nephin before breakfast of weekday morning.

It's time for cool heads. I honestly cannot understand the harsh judgement being passed on Stephen Rochford. Mayo supporters need to foster a fair-minded approach to team managers and all team officials. Supporters should mobilise support and show management and this young team that you have their best interests at heart. I hope you qualify out of the group and go on to better things. Kerry supporters are the mostly likable out there - with Galway a close second. Sure, everyone tells us that. Best wishes to Kevin and family.

Hopefully Mayo will play with the flair that we’ve seen glimpses of. Let’s go out in a blaze of glory.

We seem to be in a funny place at the moment, a new situation, how can the players really get motivated for the next 2 games? If they can they are it will be a miracle.

[Deleted].

Green & Red - if you think I'm going to allow you to post that kind of character assassination here you've got another thing coming. I would have thought that the revelations last night about posting abusive comments online might have led to everyone's thinking a bit more carefully before going in with the studs up but clearly I was wrong. A period cooling your heels in moderation might give you time for reflection.

Craggy Boglands - in light of yesterday's announcement about Kevin McStay, I thought even you would hold back from yet another dig at Stephen Rochford. You're skating on extremely thin ice now, any more of this and you'll be banned for good from commenting here. I've had it with your nonsense and now is not the time to try my patience.

Thought Padraig and the whole gaa team on gaa go were very good for Donegal match, a breath of fresh air compared to RTE,

Apologies WJ, I genuinely didn’t feel it was a character assassination, just highlighting all the actual things that Burns has said and done over the past year. TBH initially I thought he was a breath of fresh air and really liked the way he went about things. Really enjoyed his speech’s and his focus on grassroots and principles of the GAA and community. But he has become too politically minded over the last 6/8 months and in fairness it’s a growing sentiment felt around the country not just mayo. Anyway regardless I apologise.

I think internet speed is a problem for GAA go in some provincial venues ,a lot of buffering in Donegal and went down completely in Iniskeen in the league .
Probably need their own WIFI hotspot in some rural venues.
Analysis very good

Thanks, Green&Red, apology accepted.

Yes mine was buffering, thought it was my wifi,

In 2026 Mayo host London in the Quarter-final of the Connacht football championship.

Padraig is a good speaker and very interesting. Good podcast.

Martin - can you please tell me what's the point of these incessant reminders about Mayo playing London next year? I know I'm not the only one who has seen enough of them here.

@Ahnotagain no same at home and in the pub.

I thought mayo were going to London in the summer of 2026 though.the story is changing now

Martin is so done with this year's championship that he's already counting down the days for London 2026

Martin has taken decisive action and single-hadnedly put an end to the overseas jaunts - just think of the money the county board will save!

Martin's been counting them down since '24 though ... that's the problem.

At last Willie Joe you have copped on to the over the top criticism of of Mayo management

WJ - Great podcast and more of Padraig in the future please!
Padraig is a very good communicator and he is easy to listen to. Good line of questioning too from Mike, including on why Padraig stepped away from the Mayo panel last year. Padraig gives his view on why the Mayo team are playing so poorly this year, what needs to change, and how best to take on the Tyrone challenge this weekend. All really good stuff.

Martin give us all a break about London its been a tough week football wise and its still only Tuesday.

Run that by me again, Corick Bridget ...

Agree with comments about OHora. Already emerging along with Boyle and Billy Joe as really insightful ex players.

It was interesting his comment around not enjoying being in the camp the past 1-2.years which was a similar tone James Carr gave in another article this year.

I recently heard Mickey Conroy saying in his time being in the squad back in 12-16 was like being on a constant stag. Perhaps that’s because they were winning but maybe that was also down to a different feel good atmosphere too

Padraig was great alright, wasn't he? We'll definitely have to have him back on the pod again soon.

Willie Joe I thought he showed great skill in communicating an honest view of the camp, the mood, the tactics and even players form line without being offensive and targeted at people. It’s also a treat to get an inside scoop on the squad given the general lack of public info

@williejoe and all, I think it's that Martin works for the London tourism board...he is hoping if he keeps mentioning it he will be able to book Wembley as the venue....

I thought he said we were hosting London.

I’d say Martin succeeded in getting the bit of attention he was looking for somewhat like the other resident attempted troll on here who continues to make silly comments without any basis in fact or reality and when questioned on bizarre predictions like we would beat Cavan by 12 points he goes to ground while trying to use the very unfortunate and sad situation with Kevin mcstay to try to prove how right he was all along.No right minded person could justify the vile online abuse thrown at the current management but actual fact based comments were put forward on this blog on the atrocious football we have played this year which has now been supported by players that were in the camp a year ago.i don’t think we will beat Tyrone on Saturday but I won’t be coming on here afterwards claiming how great I was if I am right because obviously I desperately hope I am wrong

It's often forgotten the time and effort players put in. Pàdraig's comments were a great reminder of that.

Regardless of the outcome we need to step back and thank Pàdraig and the Mayo squad for all the sacrifices on and off the field this year.

People seem to forgot GAA is an amateur sport, players love it but they have jobs and a private life as well so regardless of performance or outcome they deserve our gratitude.

Willie Joe,there has been a couple of posters on here who have been over the top with criticism of the Mayo management team claiming that Kevin was not in control of the team, criticising Stephen at every opportunity,even though Kevin was an officer in the army,it looks like they want Mayo to lose,we have enough criticism from outside the county,we should circle the wagons and support Mayo

It was the bit you said about me copping on at last that had me puzzled, Corick Bridget. There has been criticism voiced about management of late but that's no surprise, given our recent run of form and the style of football we're playing (or not as the case may be). Most of this has been entirely valid and any OTT stuff has been dealt with. (Under the bonnet, by the way, there's also a truckload of trolling, abusive comments that nobody ever sees but that's another day's work).

I would say that your own comments have at times provoked significant ire in other contributors so maybe you also could do with taking the beam out of your own eye before pointing to the failings of others on here.

Very well said Willie joe. Thank you.

Now to Saturday. We cannot all of a sudden start bombing high ball into aos all the time because Tyrone will have that angle well covered. They historically have been very good at that. Joe mcmahon springs to mind. Kerry s twin towers etc. We must play a varied game with much more intensity. And again best wishes to Kevin and his family in his recovery. Had the privilege of speaking to Kevin on his first game in charge against sligo in ballina on a frosty January morning. Nice guy.

Just listened to the Pod with O Hora. Very honest and refreshing to listen to. Watch out Leeroy he's coming for your Sunday Game spot!

Time catches up with everyone Padraig. You didn't enjoy the last few years because the younger lads were beating you to the line. It's an awful feeling. I know it well. But it comes to everyman

While the tactics appear weak. Ask yourself this, how can I change? What can I change?

Great insight by Padraig in mayo football we need more warriors like Padraig