However, Feeney will reveal next Monday in Newport in his annual address to the Mayo GAA convention that Maughan and his selectors might not have been in charge for the 2005 championship.

Feeney writes in his report: "Mayo were pitted against Armagh in the league semi-final (in April) and the game was scheduled for Roscommon but the elements were unkind to everyone and the game was called off just before the starting time. This was a big disappointment to both teams and to the many supporters that travelled on that day.

"The re-fixture was played in Croke Park in front of a small crowd. Mayo were expected to do well and hopes were high that a league title would compensate for the disappointment of the previous September. Again Mayo came up short and management contemplated resignation after the game."

Feeney adds of the management's actual resignation in August: "They had given their all and they knew that they could get nothing more out of this bunch of players."

Feeney also talks about the approach made to Mayo native John O'Mahony, who led Galway to two All-Ireland titles in 1998 and 2001, to fill the void left by Maughan.

He writes: "County Board officials approached John O’Mahony and offered to nominate him for the position of team manager. The meeting was cordial and frank and he informed us that he had no problem working with the present board and he would let us know in a couple of days.

"True to his word he contacted each one (of the Board officials) individually and informed us that he was not in a position to resume team management at that point - citing family and business reasons. Several other attempts were made in an effort to get him to change his mind but all to no avail.”

Former Sligo, Donegal and Derry boss Mickey Moran was selected as Mayo's new manager in October.