Players had nothing to do with Rochford exit – Moran

AS THE news broke that James Horan is officially in the running to be new Mayo boss, Andy Moran insists the squad had no influence on the departure of Stephen Rochford as manager.

Despite having a year left to run on his term, Rochford stepped down last month, citing a lack of support from the county executive with speculation persisting that the panel sought change at the top.

However, Moran insisted they had “no awareness” of what was happening in the background and pointed out that the backroom team of Tony McEntee, Donie Buckley and Peter Burke stepped away in the aftermath of the qualifier loss to Kildare.

“I think paper never refuses ink and I’m not going to put more fuel to the fire,” he replied when asked about the perception that the panel was unhappy with the prospect of Rochford continuing as manager.

“The simple fact is that this happened in a really short period of time. I can honestly say in my own self we had no awareness of what was happening at all. And I think Stephen actually said that himself. The backroom team left straight after the Kildare game so we had no input in that and then it all went on from there.”

Moran confirmed his intention to play on in 2019 and says he was working under the assumption that Rochford would be at the helm.

“It happened so quickly. It was a tough thing. I think it has been talked about plenty and I think a line does need to be drawn under it. Did we see it coming? No, but when the backroom team left we were waiting for the backroom team and that to be announced.

“When it happened it was a shock to all of us but now I think the boys, and I think even Stephen said it, a line has to be drawn under it, Mayo football needs to move forward.”

Mike Solan, Mayo’s All-Ireland U-21-winning manager in 2016, has also been nominated for the post of senior boss.