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05/07/2010

MICK O DWYER PREFERRED CHOICE OF LISTENERS TO BE NEW COUNTY MANAGER

A text poll conducted by Midwest Radio has shown that the majority of Mayo football supporters would welcome any moves by the Mayo GAA Board to install Mick O'Dwyer at the counties new manager.  In the aftermath of John O'Mahony's decision to step down Mayo supporters were invited to suggest their preferred choice to take over the mantle and the Kerry man was the undisputed first choice of 27% of those who cast their votes.
 
The poll was conducted on Friday morning last between 9.00 am and 11.00 am and asked the people of Mayo to select just one name for the position.  In excess of one thousand votes were cast and although a wide range of names featured it is clear that O'Dwyer is still regarded by Mayo supporters as the man most likely to bring the glory days back to Mayo - who have failed to win an all-Ireland title since 1951. 
 
The second most popular choice was Noel Connelly - a former senior player and captain and manager joint manager at U21 level in the county - who polled 12% of the vote.  When examining the various views of listeners who took part it was clear that were O'Dwyer not in the running for the position supporters favoured Connelly as the most suitable candidate with either Peter Forde or Pat Holmes installed as joint-managers.
 
Last week the Mayo County Board released a statement indicating a full review process would take place with all clubs, delegates and senior players in the county before any formal negotiations would take place with potential candidates for the position.  The county board stated that they felt that the intervention of local radio in the process was "not constructive”.
Midwest Radio has confirmed that a massive number of phonecalls, emails and text had been received in the immediate aftermath of Mayo's narrow defeat to Longford in the all-Ireland qualifiers calling on the entire board to resign with feeling running high that the relationship between various officers, the management and players had led to the current demise in the counties fortunes.
 
The full percentage breakdown of the Midwest Radio poll were as follows: 

Mick O’Dwyer 27%
Noel Connelly (with Peter Forde or Pat Holmes) 12%
Paudie O’Shea 11%
Ray Dempsey 9%
Peter Forde 8%
Mickey Moran 7%
Liam McHale 7%
David Brady 7%
John Maughan 3%
Others 9%