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Jim McGuinness (file pic). James Crombie/INPHO
No Go

Soccer-focused Jim McGuinness says he's not interested in Mayo job

The Westerners’ former boss James Horan has also had his say.

JIM MCGUINNESS HAS insisted that he’s not interested in a return to GAA management at the minute, effectively ruling himself out of the running for the vacant Mayo job.

Stephen Rochford announced that he was stepping down from his role as Mayo senior football manager on Monday, ending his three-year stint at the helm.

And Donegal’s All-Ireland winning manager in 2012 McGuinness was one name immediately linked with the job.

But at tonight’s Off The Ball All-Ireland preview at Croke Park, he ruled out the possibility of a return to inter-county management, stating that his immediate future is focused on soccer,

“Not at the moment, definitely not,” he said when Joe Molloy asked if he was interested in getting back into GAA management. 

“For myself, it’s been a long journey of development in another sport. It is a massive challenge, there’s no doubt about that.

“I’m ready to take a managerial position (in soccer). The most important thing is not about getting a club, it’s about getting the right club.

“I’m excited. I’ve recently got a lot closer in mind how I see the game, how the game will be coached, how the game will be trained.” 

Meanwhile, former Mayo manager James Horan was speaking at the same event and he admitted that he hasn’t thought about a potential return.

Having praised Rochford’s work, Horan said: “Let the process take its course. 

“I’m manager of Westport and really enjoying that with a young bunch of guys, very keen, very ambitious and doing very well.”

James Horan James Horan. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

He added: ”I genuinely haven’t really thought of it (the vacant Mayo job).

“I’m a Mayo man that absolutely loves Mayo football and I really love coaching guys that are ambitious for teams to do well, so that’s what I love doing.

“At some stage, of course I’d love to get involved again but is it the time right for me, for the county board, I don’t know if it is. There’s so much stuff there.”

What about right now, Molloy pushed.

“At the moment, I would say for me personally, no. I’ve so much going on at the moment.”

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