Rochford's work with Mayo will start immediately

STEPHEN Rochford has been ratified as the new Mayo senior football manager at tonight's Mayo GAA County Board meeting, writes Aiden Henry.

Following meetings with Mayo GAA officials last week, Rochford - who was the only one nominated for the senior team position - ticked all the right boxes and was put before the county delegates for ratification at Elverys MacHale Park.

The Crossmolina native and former Corofin senior club manager has been given a three-year term.

Rochford's backroom team will include Donie Buckley, who has been Mayo coach for the past three years, former Armagh All-Ireland winner Tony McEntee, and Sean Carey, the former Kiltane star who was on the Mayo minor team which Rochford captained in 1995. Among their duties will be to act as selectors along with Rochford himself.

Also in the backroom team will be former Limerick manager Maurice Horan, a native of Ballinrobe, who will be looking after analysis and video review.

Although now employed with English Premier League side Arsenal, Barry Solan will continue to head up the strength and conditioning regime, which also will include former Mayo minor and Connacht Rugby star Gavin Duffy.

The medical team will be headed by Sean and Liam Moffatt, and will also include Martin McIntyre.

Rochford will have little time to celebrate his appointment as he will have to start working on squad training and getting a panel ready for the forthcoming FBD League.

His first game in charge comes on January 3 when Mayo entertain NUI Galway in Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, in round one of the competition. The final of the FBD League is down for decision on January 24, with an opening round game against Cork in the national football league scheduled for a week later.