Off The Ball can confirm that the Mayo County Board will not receive the €250,000 which had been initially raised in their interest after the surprise closure of the Mayo GAA International Supporters Foundation earlier this week.
In a letter written to the County Board by the collective's founder and chairman Tim O'Leary, it is revealed that the trustees of the MGISF and O'Leary have opted to disperse the remaining funds to a selection of charities in the region.
Mayo Ladies football has also benefited by way of the split with a portion of the money going toward the acquisition of equipment for the team.
According to O'Leary, the funding could not be released to the County Board as planned in light of their decision to "cease all dialogue" with the English-born benefactor.
This decision was made after O'Leary decided to publicly call for the replacement of county manager James Horan after Mayo were defeated by Monaghan last weekend.
Confirming that the International Supporters Foundation will cease to operate after the funds have been allocated, O'Leary was unable to release the funds on the basis of certain conditions regarding governance and transparency that were not met.
9 February 2020; Mayo manager James Horan during the Allianz Football League Division 1 Round 3 match between Meath and Mayo at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile"Sorry for my outburst yesterday," he tweeted subsequent to sharing his initial complaint via the same social media platform, "had a few too many pints - lesson learned - I am going to keep my mouth shut going forward."
Unfortunately, O'Leary's apology was deemed insufficient by the Mayo County Board: "Mayo GAA will not engage with stakeholders whose behaviours deviate from what has been mandated by our clubs and in light of recent social media comments made by Mr O’ Leary engagement has now ceased."
After some troubled months between O'Leary, the County Board and the accountability for donations he had already made, it appeared that a resolution between the pair had been achieved earlier this year.
This latest schism has given Tim O'Leary cause to close the International Supporters Foundation, however, and wish the county every good fortune in the future.
Related Articles:
27/02/20 | International Supporters Foundation to close
25/02/20 | The Mayo Story so far: Tim O'Leary and the making of a millionaire GAA row
25/02/20 | Mayo cease contact with millionaire benefactor following 'Horan out' tweets
24/02/20 | Millionaire benefactor apologises after Horan outburst on Twitter
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