Ulster chief warns of hike in cost of buying tickets

ADMISSION charges may have to be increased if the Ulster Council is to be able to meet its continuing financial commitments, according to officials.

Secretary Danny Murphy warned ‘dispersible income’ remains heavily dependent on the returns from the senior football championship.

“We have worked diligently to assist all of our constituent units and we shall endeavour to meet the challenges that lie ahead,’’ he writes. “The costs of running our games programme are also evident but it needs to be stated that we have not increased our admission charges in line with the rest of the Association and that we have maintained all of our existing programmes to date.

“But, this position cannot be maintained into the future.’’ Total income amounted to €7,675,763, inclusive of all grants. Gate receipts generated €2,044,492 — representing 27% of the total compared to 35% in 2006. Grant income last year, at €3,375,690 represented 44% of the total in comparison to 38% the previous year.

Expenditure amounted to €4,605,394, in addition to investment in grounds and infrastructure totalling €3,982,382. The net result was an operating deficit on the year’s working equating to €424,137 (which was met from accumulated funds).

Murphy points out that the continuation of funding from the (Northern Ireland) Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has enabled them to progress their floodlighting project to the current position — where eight of county grounds have modern floodlighting systems that are extensively used for county, club and educational competitions. “The DCAL funding has also enabled us to support a large games development programme while at the same time assisted us in strengthening the administration and governance side of the Associations affairs. The grants from Árd Comhairle have also assisted in these objectives but these reserves are finite and the future is unclear at this time.’’