George Golden, who along with fellow selector Liam McHale and manager John Maughan quit Mayo's management team on Tuesday, believes that they leave football in the county in a "healthy state".

Golden told the Irish Times that the trio resigned essentially due to the enormous commitment that the job required, though this summer's campaign was disappointing to a large degree.

Golden added that Mayo had made progress during the last three years or so, but chairman Sean Feeney added that the county's footballers still lack the class of the likes of Kerry, Armagh and Tyrone.

Golden revealed: "We discussed our future on Sunday night, yesterday and again (on Tuesday) morning. We are stepping down en bloc.

"It has taken a massive effort over the last three years as we came in with the sole purpose of winning an All-Ireland. We didn't do that but I still feel we are leaving Mayo football in a healthy state."

Feeney, who was only told of the management's decision at 3pm on Tuesday, said: "Managers come and go but it boils down to the players you have at your disposal.

"We are still short a few quality players in key positions and until we can sort that out we will continue to struggle against the best."