GAA must heed ‘dire’ financial warnings

THE threat of “dire financial difficulties” being experienced by other sporting organisations should serve as a stern warning to the GAA on the dangers of professionalism.

Munster Council secretary Donie Nealon issued this warning to the membership in his 37th and final report to annual convention on Friday in Thurles.

The effect of professionalism would place an enormous burden on the finances of county boards who are experiencing great difficulty in generating sufficient funds to meet the costs of training and preparing their county teams.

"Professionalism would be a most detrimental step for the association,'' he said. "We have only to look at other sporting bodies as recent reports testify to realise what dire financial difficulties they are now experiencing because of professionalism, with the result that they have to take drastic measures to try and revert back to their former non-professional status.''

Mr Nealon admits that he wishes to see more full-time coaches being appointed, even though this would involve additional spending.

The benefits of such work are to be seen in increased skill levels in 'The Primary Game' matches and in the increasing number of young boys and girls playing Gaelic games.

"The council has spent and still continues to spend quite a large sum in coaching and games promotion as it is committed to the importance and necessity of it," wrote Mr Nealon.

"I wish that even more coaches could be employed, if at all possible, through the combined efforts of divisional boards, the clubs and the council on a shared financial basis, in order to cater for the increasing demands in this area.

"Every team in every club should have a qualified coach in charge of affairs at underage level so as to give all young players the opportunity to reach their full potential in mastering the skills of Gaelic games," he wrote.

The organisation of tournament games which created some serious disciplinary problems prompts him to ask the question if some clubs are organising them without proper permission, as required by rule.

Failure to do so could result in serious consequences in the event of a player sustaining a bad injury.