Presented as one of the favourites to replace Stephen Rochford, James Horan has confirmed that he is not planning a return to inter-county management, at the moment.
Having led Mayo to All-Ireland finals in 2012 and 2013, Horan revealed to the Irish Daily Star that claims he was set for a return to the role he departed in 2014 were greatly exaggerated; "I've had no approach nor have I approached anyone."
Horan's 2014 departure coincided with Mayo's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kerry, and, it is believed his return would be warmly welcomed within the county.
However, since stepping down, Horan has taken up the managerial reins at Westport, whilst also undertaking punditry work for Sky Sports' Gaelic football coverage.
Horan's comments would suggest he is not overly keen to compromise this set up. Furthermore, given the difficulties he faced in his dealing with the Mayo County Board while manager of the county's senior footballers, any potential decision will be come with certain conditions.
"There is no point in going into inter-county management unless you are fully confident you can do things the way you think they should be done. If I was ever to go back into it, I wouldn't do so, unless that was the case."
"That, I would suggest, is not the environment at the moment."
On Monday evening, Stephen Rochford confirmed that he would no longer be continuing in the role he took up ahead of the 2016 championship. Brought in to replace Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly, Rochford led Mayo to successive All-Ireland finals; losing in both instances by a single point to Dublin.
Citing a lack of support from the Mayo County Board as reason enough for him to end his association with the county's senior footballers, Rochford's successor will undoubtedly be aware of the difficulties they could face from the county's administrators.
Few possess the kind of first-hand experience of these difficulties as James Horan.
