With just over a week until the Mayo senior hurling team start their 2015 campaign in the Connacht Hurling League away to Leitrim on Saturday January 3 they are looking for a new manager after Christy Phillips resigned last week.
The Limerick native who was in charge of the side for the last two seasons and guided them as far as the Christy Ring Cup semi- final last summer said he was walking away after a number of senior players had lost faith in him as manager. Last season had
also seen Mayo win the Keogh shield and the Connacht Intermediate title. In a statement released to the press, Phillips said: “It is after much soul searching and with deep regret that I have come to the decision to step down as manager of the Mayo senior hurling team. Over the past number of weeks, and after several meetings with the wider management team, players, and the county board, it has become clear that many of the senior players have lost confidence in me as team manager and have refused to play for Mayo in 2015 if I
remained in charge. Under the circumstances and in the best interests of Mayo hurling I have decided to resign my position with immediate effect.
“I would like to thank all of those who have supported me in my role with the team over the past two years, and in particular the outgoing backroom team of Leo O’Connor, Austin Kenny, and Michael Moran. Thanks also to the Sean Julian, (team caterer ), Karen Lacey (team physio ), Philip, Michael and Neil at McHale Park, my 2012 coach Ciaran Hynes and all the players who have lined out under my
management in the past few years, all the underage and adult hurling clubs, all our sponsors, hurling committee, and county board members, members of the local press and Midwest Radio, and most importantly all the supporters who cheered us on from the side-lines. A very special thanks to my wife Anita and my family for their support and patience over the past number of years.
“I wish the incoming management team and players the best of success in the future and I look forward to being involved in Mayo hurling in some other capacity in 2015.”
