Corcoran: Time to move on to fresh challenges

ROWING IRELAND will meet in January to discuss plans to transform the sport in Ireland.

Chief executive Martin Corcoran will be stepping down from his position in February and the body hopes to have a strategy in place for his replacement to drive the sport forward in a climate where they expect funding to drop dramatically.

“We are reviewing our strategy at the moment,” said Rowing Ireland President, Anthony Dooley.

“We are having a meeting at the end of January where we’re looking at where our emphasis is and we hope to have a plan in place by February.

“The new CEO will be an intricate part of that. Martin [Corcoran] has been here for two Olympics and always said he’d leave around now. He feels we should have new strategy and thinks the new person will drive that forward.

“All sports will be challenged with funding issues, it’s part of where the country is at. We have to readjust. We don’t know the extent of it yet but there will be cuts to our core funding and high-performance funding next year.”

Dooley congratulated the outgoing chief executive Corcoran for his work within the organisation which had seen participation increase.

“Martin was held in high standing throughout the sport and his major achievements included the significant growth in participation at all levels over the past few years and overseeing the development of the ultra-modern National Rowing Centre in Cork.

“Our numbers our up but we aim to be better. That’s what we’re looking at now. What we’re doing is looking on areas to put more emphasis.”

Corcoran stated: “After serving the organisation as chief executive for over seven years, during a time of significant growth and achievement, it is now time to move on to fresh challenges.”

Frank Coghlan, Secretary of Rowing Ireland will take up the position of acting chief executive while a permanent replacement is sought.