Gillick loses Sports Council funding

David Gillick has confirmed he has been cut from Irish Sports Council funding for 2013.

Gillick, two-time European Indoor champion and sixth in the World outdoor championships in Berlin in 2009, will lose out on a grant worth €40,000.

“Yes, I am disappointed to be cut, but, as I was unable to compete through injury, I knew the writing was on the wall,” said the Dublin man, who is training in Australia.

“I have been funded well over the last number of years and I respect, in parts, the criteria set out by the Sports Council. I understand that in many walks of life you have to meet targets and regarding funding it should never be taken as granted or a right. I did hope I might be kept on at some level, but the Sports Council have stated they are making no exceptions this year, so therefore that ruled that out.”

Gillick said he will comment further in January when the 2013 funding has been released . He is also hopeful of direct funding from Athletics Ireland.

“I have yet to see the full allocation of funding so it would be unfair for me to comment on the distribution of funds. I simply hope that the decisions made are consistent across the board.

“I have heard, through the media and from the AAI High Performance director, that Athletics Ireland would like to help fund some athletes directly but I have had no direct communication with Athletics Ireland in recent weeks.”

For now Gillick has been left to his own devices but is forging ahead on his own to make an impact in 2013.

“As of now, I am no longer a carded Irish athlete and I am not funded by Athletics Ireland. The athletic training year has well and truly begun and I am planning my year ahead on my own bat.”