Kelly wants GAC to be split in two
Kelly, speaking at the launch of the Bank of Ireland SFC in Dublin yesterday, believes the GAC take on too much responsibility and would like to see a motion passed at congress next April to create two bodies.
“There are so many games now, maybe that is the way to go,” said Kelly.
“It is a very important committee, the most important in the association in terms of fixtures and discipline.
"But I think sometimes it has too much responsibility. I can’t do anything about that this year, but next year, I hope there will be a motion before congress that will turn the GAC into two bodies.
"There will be more independence then. One couldn’t be accused of watching what is going to happen in the other’s situation.”
As recent high-profile cases that came before the GAC went unpunished, Croke Park in turn suffered a barrage of criticism.
Seán McCague made discipline one of the central planks of his presidency, but Kelly was eager yesterday to point out there had been no softening of attitudes.
“There might have been an impression out there that things had changed with regard to our desire to have the highest possible standards for discipline and the fairest possible administration of it.
"But there is no softening of our attitude. There has been a lot of progress made in the past few years and also with regard to referees and having the highest possible standards with referees.
"That progress will continue. Rules are there to be followed and if people don’t follow them, they will be punished.”
Last week’s GAC review, which saw Kilkenny stars Henry Shefflin and Philly Larkin, as well as Tipperary’s Redser O’Grady escape censure, has thrown the spotlight on the committee.
The president would not be drawn on the decisions reached last week.
“I can’t comment on individual cases. The GAC did what they saw fitting in that situation.”
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