STEPHEN ROCHFORD HAS finalised his management team which he hopes will be given the task next week of leading Mayo in 2016.
Rochford has drafted in a former Mayo underage colleague, Sean Carey, to complete his line-up.
Carey, who was on the 1995 Mayo minor team which Rochford captained and who went on to U-21 level the following year, will be one of three selectors put forward for ratification early next week.
Former Armagh All-Ireland winner Tony McEntee and Kerry native Donie Buckley, who has been Mayo coach for the past three years, will also be key members of Rochford’s line-up as they bid for an unprecedented sixth Connacht title in a row and try to end their All-Ireland famine.
Carey, who played most of his club football for Kiltane and who has been lining out in recent years at junior level for Ardagh, is a teacher in Foxford and has been involved in many school teams over the years.
Barry Solan, who is now with Arsenal, will head up the strength and conditioning regime, which would also include former Ireland and Connacht rugby player Gavin Duffy, himself an ex-Mayo minor.
Former Limerick manager Maurice Horan, who is from Ballinrobe, would also be involved – looking after analysis and video reviews.
Rochford, who guided Corofin to All-Ireland glory earlier this year, is the only candidate nominated to take over from Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly and is due to be ratified by the Mayo County Board early next week.
