1996/99
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Maughan admits he was on verge of quitting
GAA
15 October 1997
By Tom Kelly
Mayo manager John Maughan has admitted he was on the verge of quitting following his side's All-Ireland senior football final defeat at the hands of Kerry seventeen days ago.
He revealed being 'embarrassed' by the performance and wanted to bow out. He told a meeting of the Mayo County Board on Monday night that he also sought to scrap plans for the team's homecoming.
Maughan said he changed his mind about stepping down after talking to his players and fellow selectors. They convinced him that the players and management should stick together and redeem themselves in next year's campaign.
It was generally felt by those close to the scene that Maughan would have opted out of the job if Mayo had defeated Kerry. But he is now fully committed to competing his three-year contract in the post.
Maughan outlined he would be bringing new players into the squad and some of the current members would not be re-selected. His statement has increased speculation that Dermot Flanagan may retire >from inter-county football after a long and distinguished career.
The situation will become clearer, however, when Flanagan returns from a holiday in Canada. Pat Holmes and Liam McHale have already indicated that are willing to play another year for the county. But Maurice Sheridan will be out until after Christmas at least with a back injury.
The meeting was told that officials of the Mayo County Board has been 'abused' by supporters who could not secure tickets for the All-Ireland final. But it was made clear by members of the executive that the board could not obtain the same numbers of tickets from Croke Park as they had in previous years.
John P Kean has been re-appointed manager of the Mayo minor team for another 12 months.
The board also unveiled plans to develop a county ground in Castlebar at a cost of £130,000.
The venues for Mayo's National League home matches were fixed as follows: v Galway (Castlebar); v Carlow (Charlestown); v Leitrim (Ballina); v Laois (Crossmolina).
