The process of appointing the new Mayo senior manager will move towards the finishing line this weekend when the four candidates for the position are interviewed by the county board's selection committee.
The Mayo Advertiser understands that all four candidates:- Raymond Dempsey, Kevin McStay, Declan Shaw and Mike Solan - will be interviewed on Saturday.
Knockmore manager Raymond Dempsey was the latest to confirm his backroom team as part of his application, with an impressive-looking ticket behind him.
On his backroom, if successful, will be former All Ireland winner with Armagh Oisín McConville, former Kerry All Ireland winning goalkeeper Declan O'Keefe, former Mayo footballer and multiple All Star winner Keith Higgins, former All Ireland minor winning manager for Mayo Enda Gilvarry and Ardnaree native James Burke - who has been a coach and selector under James Horan during his last four-year term in the role.
All four potential managers have put together very strong backroom tickets ahead of their application for the role, with McStay's including former Mayo manager and All Ireland club winning manager Stephen Rochford, former Mayo coach Donnie Buckley, former Mayo star Liam McHale and former Crossmolina native Damien Mulligan.
Declan Shaw will be leaning on former Dublin player Paddy Christie, his former Castlebar club mate Richie Feeney, Sligo native Dessie Sloyan and Cormac Rowland, who was involved with Shaw coaching Castlebar Mitchels in the past.
Mike Solan has former Armagh player Aidan O'Rourke, former Sligo man Eamon O'Hara and former Mayo players Alan Murphy and Mark Ronaldson on his ticket.
When the interviews are completed this weekend, it is expected that an announcement will be made next week by the board on the chosen candidate for the position.
