Mayo ladies break silence
THE Mayo ladies football squad have broken their silence in the wake of the division that saw 12 players withdraw their services earlier this year and have insisted that “no player welfare issues exist or have ever existed under the current management”.
The remaining squad members have hit out at the players who left, eight of whom were from the Carnacon club including Mayo and ladies football icon Cora Staunton, stating they “took offence” to some of the comments subsequently made by the departed.
Carnacon were subsequently suspended for bringing the game into disrepute, a decision that would have barred them from defending their Mayo, Connacht and AllIreland club crowns if it wasn’t overturned by the Connacht Council last week.
Mayo Ladies LGFA are in the process of appealing that decision to Central Council this week.
THE ladies’ statement will potentially cause deeper division as they outlined how they felt “deeply let down and hurt by the actions of those who left our panel”.
Two members of the backroom team also left but the current panel have given their unequivocal backing to the manager Peter Leahy and his remaining team.
They claimed an attempted “coup” against Leahy failed. “Understandably, we as players were left shocked and saddened by this decision (eight Carnacon players leaving) which was taken 10 days before our championship match with Cavan.
“Another four players, one selector and one backroom staff member left following a failed coup which took place at a players’ meeting two days later.
The statement added: “To date, we have not been given any reasoning or clarity as to why this course of action was taken. We feel deeply let down and hurt by the actions of those who left our panel.
“We believe that no player welfare issues exist or have ever existed under the current management and categorically disagree with the statement issued in July by the individuals that departed the Mayo senior ladies panel.
“We were surprised and disappointed to hear of these issues and if we had witnessed any welfare issues, we would not have hesitated to highlight them to the management.
“It is fair to say that there was considerable upheaval in advance of the Cavan game.
“This was the biggest game of the year for us and our preparation was distracted.
“We take offence to some of the comments that have been made by certain players over the last few weeks in the media.”
An overwhelming majority of Mayo clubs backed the decision to suspend Carnacon in the first place and it will be interesting to see their reaction if their county board’s appeal is not successful.”