The path is clear.
James Horan and his second coming has a touch of inevitability about it now after Mike Solan withdrew from the race to become Mayo manager for 2019.
The Mayo county board were set to meet both Horan and Solan to discuss their prospects, their plans and their backroom teams after the nomination process closed but, in a shock twist, Solan has pulled out of the reckoning.
That leaves just James Horan and that leaves the stage set.
Horan stepped down as Mayo manager in 2014 after guiding them to two All-Ireland finals and two semi-finals in his time and dragging them to such a level that they haven’t fallen out of the top bracket since.
But he will still, of course, have to interview for the job and he will still have to forge a relationship with the Mayo county board before he takes the job for a second time.
In an official statement, May revealed that Solan is no longer in the running and that they will now speak with Horan.
‘Mayo GAA have been informed by Mike Solan that he is withdrawing his name from the role as Mayo Senior football team manager.
‘We would like to thank Mike for putting his name forward for the role & look forward to seeing him involved with Mayo GAA in the future.
‘The officers of Mayo GAA will now meet with James Horan to discuss his management team & plans for 2019.’
In his own statement, Solan confirmed that he would be stepping aside but he didn’t give any reason as to why just yet.
“Today, I have informed the Mayo County Board that I am withdrawing my name from the nomination process for the Mayo Senior Football Team Manager,” he said.
“I would like to thank everyone who helped me in this process and I would like to wish the Mayo Senior team every success in 2019 and beyond.”
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