THE MAYO FOOTBALLERS are set to have a training camp in London for the week after their Connacht championship clash in Ruislip on 29 May.
But manager Stephen Rochford has denied that they will be using the facilities of Premier League soccer club Arsenal during their stay in the English capital city.
There has been speculation within the county that the Connacht champions were set to train at Arsenal’s facilities.
There is a link between the two setups as Ballaghaderreen native Barry Solan has doubled up as a strength and conditioning coach with the Mayo football squad and Arsenal since last summer.
Rochford explained the thinking behind staying in London after the provincial quarter-final.
“Staying in London (but) no, it isn’t Arsenal. Everybody is aware that it (training camps) is a common feature now amongst a lot of teams.
“It was about trying to manage the workload that was going to be on players. As part of our calendar, we were going to be going to an airport and travelling abroad.
“Instead of looking to do that at two different times of the year, we would manage that workload, minimise the upheaval or impact that would have maybe on club games and training loads.
“That’s really been the point to why we’re doing it at that time of year.”
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