Mayo secretary responds to rumours of player unrest in senior panel

The Mayo County Board are playing it cool over rumours of player unrest.

GAA fans woke up this morning to reports of major strife in the Mayo senior football camp after it was alleged that the panel had voted no-confidence in the management of Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly. It's understood that Keith Higgins and Cillian O'Connor delivered the news to the management in the last few days, with speculation indicating that players were unhappy with aspects of the duo's first year in charge. However the Mayo county board tonight are playing down any possible resignation talk, and have responded to the rumours on Off The Ball on Newstalk. County secretary Vincent Neary admitted that the news was a huge surprise to everyone in Mayo GAA circles,

"In fairness to the Mayo management it's a bombshell to them and to the Mayo county board and to the supporters." "There is always rumours and same as you heard them, and but we have heard nothing from any particular player."

Neary also revealed that there is set to be a meeting between players and the county board this Thursday to get to the heart of the matter, but the county secretary feels the whole thing may be overblown by the media,

"At the end of any campaign there is rumours and not a lot else to talk about." "We haven't discussed this with either management or the players reps but we will work on that as soon as the players give us the confirmation they are available on Thursday to tease it out." "We have a good relationship with our players and that won't change."

Neary did admit that there was no indication of any unrest before today's news

"(There's) no reason given as to why this has happened. The management haven't been told why they have a vote of no-confidence in them and that's disappointing."

The comments are unlikely to ease the growing expectation that Holmes and Connelly will stand aside, with a player's statement anticipated in the coming days.