Stephen Rochford has announced that he is stepping down as Mayo manager.
Just one day after Pope Francis lifted the Mayo Curse, Rochford has issued a statement confirming that he will no longer be at the helm of Mayo’s senior football team.
The Crossmolina man was appointed as the new manager of Mayo in December 2015 on a three-year contract. In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, he led the county to the All-Ireland Final where they narrowly lost to Dublin.
Rochford had signed a two-year contract extension to his original contract as recently as October 2017.
This most recent championship was tougher again, with Mayo bowing out earlier than expected to Kildare — after a protracted debate over where the game would be held.
Rochford has laid some of the responsibility at the feet of the Mayo GAA Board — confirming that he decided on his future after the board issued a statement “saying they wished to meet the management team and [me] about the structure of our plans.”
He wrote, “It was apparent from what transpired at that meeting that the desired level of support for me as manager was not forthcoming from the Executive Committee. This disappoints me greatly.”
Rochford also argued that he had “every confidence” that he and his bolstered backroom staff could “build on the progress of previous years.”
He concluded by wishing the Mayo team every success in the 2019.
Rochford’s statement can be read in full below.
Stephen Rochford steps downs as #Mayo manager. Statement: #GAA pic.twitter.com/eWUPk0qKGm
— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) August 27, 2018
Mayo GAA have also confirmed the news on their Twitter page, and thanked Rochford for “all his work over the past three years.”
Stephen Rochford has stepped down as manager of the Mayo Senior Football team. We thank him for all his work over the past three years. #mayogaa #gaa https://t.co/EHpfh2o1DV
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) August 27, 2018
