Stephen Rochford predicting changes to Mayo squad ahead of taking county job

Stephen Rochford is one of a handful of Mayo men to have tasted success in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day as a manager.

The current Corofin boss masterminded the March 17th success over Slaughtneil in the AIB All-Ireland club championship final and is now set to take over as the new Mayo manager. The Crossmolina/Ballinrobe man is likely to reveal his full backroom team later this month, after the Mayo County Board this week confirmed he was the only candidate put forward for the manager's position after the departure of Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes. Rochford is seemingly a popular choice among Mayo fans, and his comments about how the county can finally end their famine at All-Ireland level should make for encouraging reading for any supporters of the green and red.

"I think firstly, we’ve been banging on the door over the last number of years. I think we’re very, very close, and been unfortunate on a couple of occasions, maybe, not to get across the line." “I’m looking to bring a freshness and an energy that I feel that I’m capable of. The guys that I would be looking to bring in will obviously bring that element of freshness as well. We’re very, very near. I think it’s early days to be … going into … tactics or anything like that."

The previous managment were criticised for not blooding enough young players in the national league this year, but judging by the comments of Rochford there will be new faces on the panel, as well in the backroom team. Rochford is likely to continue with Corofin until their involvement in the All-Ireland series comes to a close, which means that the day-to-day running of the squad's winter preparation will be handed over to his assistants according to his interview in this week's Mayo News.

“There’s a great, great bunch of lads there. There’ll be new faces, I’m sure coming in, whoever is the new manager. But I think there’s good days ahead for Mayo GAA, and if I’m lucky enough to take up the position, we’ll do all in our endeavour to get them across the line in 2016.”