Duffy: no move on illegal payments

GAA chiefs remain in the dark about Director General Paraic Duffy’s plans for his much anticipated paper on illegal payments to club and county managers.

Duffy vowed earlier this year to tackle the widespread problem of ‘under the counter’ payments which break GAA rules on amateurism and are most prevalent at club level.

It was anticipated his discussion paper on the issue, which may contain suggestions on how to address the issue, would be released around now.

But, according to Operations Manager Fergal McGill, a close aide of Duffy in Croke Park, he is unaware of any official launch date for the eagerly awaited document.

The issue of exactly how much it costs to fund a management team came to prominence last week when it was revealed that new Meath manager Seamus McEnaney will require monthly expenses of €11,000.

This will all be for vouched expenses and Meath chairman Barney Allen was quick to point out there is no question of any illegal payments in the Royal County.

McGill was able to elaborate more on the issue of the GAA’s closed season rule and the many rumours and allegations of breaches taking place around the country. He said he was aware of various rumours but insisted that as far as the GAA are concerned no county manager has broken the rule forbidding them from holding collective training sessions in November and December.

Former Mayo manager John O’Mahony stated recently the ban ‘isn’t being adhered to everywhere as suggested by GAA authorities’.

McGill said if the GAA is presented with concrete information regarding such breaches then it will immediately dispatch spies to investigate.

He also reiterated the punishment for any team caught infringing the rule by gathering players for training or challenge matches. “We’ve clearly set down that we’ll withhold elements of national league gate receipts if any county is blatantly disregarding it. As I say, nobody has formally reported anything to us. I’ve heard bits of stories that various fellas are spotted in gyms but that’s provided for.”

The Leitrim man revealed Ulster is the preferred venue to host the next International Rules test in Ireland, in 2013.

Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds got the nod this year ahead of Casement Park but the Belfast venue may be in a better position to stage the game in three years.

“We would love to be in a position to do it up there (in Casement Park). It was considered this time around but it just wasn’t considered quite suitable enough. We needed more seats basically.”

McGill was speaking at the announcement of a 60 man shortlist for the Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup Team of the Century. The 60 nominees all played Sigerson Cup football in the last 100 years and include Maurice Fitzgerald (UCC/Kerry), Billy Morgan (UCC/Kerry) and Enda Colleran (UCG/Galway). The final 15 will be decided next month by a committee chaired by Dr Mick Loftus.

See Results page for shortlist

* The venues for the AIB Munster Club SFC semi-finals have been changed. Nemo Rangers v Stradbally of Waterford will now take place at Páirc Uí Rinn. Aherlow of Tipperary will face Kerry’s Dr Crokes at Cashel. Both games start at 2pm.