Former Mayo midfielder David Brady believes the Mayo International Supporters Foundation – which has become embroiled in controversy after its founder called for the departure of James Horan – still has a role to play for the county.
The foundation's future looks increasingly precarious after the Mayo County Board announced on Monday that they were ceasing "all dialogue" with its founder Tim O'Leary following a Twitter outburst against Horan.
Mayo GAA's statement did not clarify whether they would continue to take donations from the foundation in the future.
However, the foundation's continued existence looks uncertain after its website was taken offline on Tuesday night following the latest controversy.
O'Leary had previously threatened to sue the county board over the winter due to concerns he had over the spending of a $150,000 donation made through the foundation. The months-long dispute finally ended after the county board apologised and promised governance reforms.
Joining Tuesday's Off The Ball, Brady empathised with O'Leary who knew "he made a mistake" by tweeting for Horan's sacking and raised the possibility of the foundation rebuilding a relationship with Mayo GAA in the future.
"I would say he made a mistake, he knows it himself, so he does. I think the bigger picture, let's not get away, Mayo football is not about one man, one person, whether that's one player, one manager, one benefactor, or one team. It's about the bigger picture.
"I do say the International Supporters Foundation, no matter what, still has a role to play. Look it, they are not bad people. They are good and their heart's in the right place."
Time, Brady said, can be a great healer and it is something that could repair the fractured relationship between O'Leary, his foundation and the county board.
"We have all made mistakes, Tim has put his hands up and he's admitted it, and the county board have said, 'right, this is the reality of it'.
"But look, time is a great healer as well and the most common denominator for a Mayo person – a Mayo supporter in any way shape or form – is not what they have in their pocket but what is in their heart and what they can give to Mayo football, and there is a lot of them out there."
"I think there could be a time and a place where the foundation, which might or mightn't include Tim, has a role going forward."
You can read the full history of the Tim O'Leary-Mayo GAA saga here.
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