Long-serving Quinlan could be left out in the cold

MICHAEL QUINLAN, one of the longest serving members of the executive of the Athletic Association of Ireland (AAI), could become a casualty of the new structure that has been put in place to govern the sport when the chairs of the new committees are elected at next weekend’s annual congress in Limerick Junction.

The Corkman, who was elected treasurer of what was then known by its Irish acronym BLE, in 1990, is seeking the position of chairman of the finance committee of the AAI, which would keep him in the new executive.

He faces stiff competition, however, from Mary Coghlan, herself an active athlete, and the sister of high hurdler and national record holder and Irish Olympian, Peter Coghlan.

Mr Quinlan won the support of the Dublin board by one vote, but lost out in his native Cork, whose support would have given him a strong hand.

It was felt his stance on the new strategic plan would militate against him come election time, but he insisted yesterday that he was never opposed to the changes being put before them at the time.

“There was a need for change. The organisation had to be made more professional and more competent, but I did not want to see something being imposed on us,” he said.

“I always felt we needed to have a say in our own destiny...We still don’t have a document which outlines strategic vision going forward.”

The outgoing President, Michael Heery, is being opposed by the outgoing Secretary, Georgina Drumm, in the contest for the presidency and there is also a contest for the chair of the coaching committee between Patsy McGonagle, the vice-president and current holder of the position, and Nick Davis.

Liam Hennessy, a former National Secretary, International Secretary and the longest serving member of the Executive, is unopposed for the chair of the performance committee, while Paddy Marley is also unopposed for the chair of the competition committee.

“There is a good working relationship with the Sports Council,” Patsy McGonagle pointed out. “We are moving along with the appointments. Some key positions have been filled, the regional jobs have been advertised and we have departed from the old system of appointing team management by advertising the positions as well.

“The way has also been cleared for the new technical plan and an abridged version of that will be handed out at the meeting. We are working closely with the NCTC and 29 up and coming athletes have just returned from a very successful Easter training camp in the Algarve.”

A number of regional hubs are being set up linked with third level institutions around the country and, as the congress takes place, a Hungarian hammer coach will be working with Eileen O’Keeffe and conducting an open session for promising young hammer throwers and their coaches.

“It is part of a plan to bring in outside coaches to work with our elite athletes and their coaches, in the near future, and we will also be talking to Ricki Simms with a view to him helping get athletes into the major meets along with his Kenyan athletes,” Patsy McGonagle said.