BREAKING: SHOCK AS MICKEY GRAHAM STEPS DOWN AS LEITRIM SENIOR TEAM MANAGER
Leitrim GAA: Former Cavan manager steps down from role as Green & Gold Senior team manager
Leitrim GAA are on the hunt for a new manager of the Men's Senior Football team after the County Board revealed that newly appointed manager Mickey Graham had stepped down from the position with immediate effect.
The former Ulster championship winning Cavan manager had been appointed to the role in early August, succeeding Andy Moran who stepped down from the role. Graham had been brought in by the former Mayo Footballer of the Year as a new selector following the departure of Mike Solan as Assistant Manager in 2023.
However, in a statement released on Tuesday evening, after the Leitrim Observer went to print, Leitrim GAA have stated that Graham has tendered his resignation with immediate effect with the County now in search of a new manager ahead of the 2025 Allianz NFL Division 3 campaign.
Leitrim GAA's statement read: "Leitrim GAA Management Committee at its meeting this evening was informed of the decision by Mickey Graham not to continue in the role of Leitrim Senior Football Manager for 2025. Mickey was fully committed and looking forward to his role ahead but circumstances beyond his control have led to him making this decision and regrettably, for all concerned, he will not be continuing in his appointed position. Leitrim GAA will now recommence the process of appointing a new manager."
In an interview with the Irish Sun Sport last Friday, Graham said Leitrim's footballers needed to believe: "It’s a different type of challenge, I suppose, from when I was with Cavan. It’s all just about a mindset change in Leitrim. They’re probably hard on themselves at times and probably feel that they’re looked down on, but they’re trying to do the right things. They have a good county board there that are very supportive and they’re doing lots of work at development squads, trying to bring players through."
Graham also admitted in the interview with Jason Byrne that the call to take over Leitrim had been unexpected: "I think the main thing in Leitrim is trying to get that consistency and buy-in from players. There’s no quick fix there. You have to stick at it for a number of years before you’ll see progress. It probably came up unexpectedly to be honest with you. I obviously was in under Andy, and totally enjoyed it. I was looking at it from a different perspective as a number two. Then Andy stepped away and they came calling.”