Mayo GAA has ceased all contact with millionaire benefactor Tim O'Leary after a series of tweets he posted on Sunday calling for James Horan to be sacked.
O'Leary, who finances the Mayo International Supporters Foundation, took to Twitter on Sunday to call for the end of Horan's management reign in light of Mayo's defeat to Monaghan in Clones.
"#Horanout We are not very good. #Truthhurts always," the Bahamas-based businessman wrote following the nine-point loss during which Horan's side were reduced to 13 men.
While the tweets were later deleted and an apology posted on Monday – in which O'Leary blamed his outburst on the influence of alcohol – the offence was just the latest in a long disintegration of relations between O'Leary and the county board.
The two had previously spent much of the winter embroiled in a bitter row over O'Leary's concerns with how the county board had spent a €150,000 donation he made.
While that dispute led to the businessman threatening legal action, a resolution "in the best interests of Mayo GAA" was later found through which the county board apologised and promised reforms.
Relations, however, appear to have hit a new all-time low following O'Leary's attack on Horan, with the county board confirming in a statement on Monday night that all dialogue had ceased.
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"Although relations were strained for a number of months," the statement read, "a way forward was agreed in January and it was hoped that both parties would be able to work together for the betterment of Mayo GAA, this, however, is now not the case."
"The club delegates of Mayo GAA have mandated agreed behaviours based on mutual respect, the exclusion of animosity and the inappropriate use of communication channels such as social media.
"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."
O'Leary has not yet made comment but deactivated his Twitter account on Monday night.
In December, Mayo GAA International Supporters Foundation had pledged a figure of at least €1,000,000 to the county board over a five-year period if it could fulfill nine demands placed on the organisation.
While Monday's statement did not clarify whether the county board would no longer accept donations from O'Leary, any future or immediate funding from the businessman now appears in serious doubt.
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