Wexford man Frank Browne has been appointed as the new manager of the Mayo senior hurlers, succeeding Gerry Spellman.
Browne, who has yet to confirm his selectors, is well-known in Mayo hurling circles having played for both Ballyhaunis and the county team.
His predecessor guided Mayo to the Division Three Shield last season.
They beat Donegal 1-14 to 2-10 in the May final to guarantee themselves Division Two hurling in 2006.
However, the westerners lost all three of their Christy Ring Cup ties in the summer, scoring 3-24 but conceding a total of 9-44 in the process, against Carlow, Kerry and Wicklow.
Browne, operations manager at Knock Airport, will size up his charges, in the competitive sense, when Mayo take on Sligo at home in the quarter-finals of the Connacht Hurling Cup on January 14.
They are also scheduled face Kildare in the Kehoe Cup on January 29.
