Croker finance chief lands plumb Olympics post

A SENIOR Croke Park staffer has landed a major new job helping to run the London Olympics of 2012.

Monaghan native Allen Duffy has been the Financial Controller of the Croke Park stadium for the last four years, but early next month he will leave the GAA to take up a new position with the London Olympic Games Organising Committee.

As the Financial Planning Manager of London 2012, Duffy will be involved in administering a budget of more than £2billion (€2.4bn) and will bring the expertise gained from staging major events and concerts at Croke Park to the Olympic stage where the games take place over 25 venues.

“It’s a huge opportunity and the chance of a lifetime really because the Olympics won’t be in Europe again for another 12 years,” says 34-year-old Duffy, who played football for Monaghan at minor, U21 and senior level. He believes the Croke Park experience was a crucial factor in him winning the post.

“It will be a lot of project-based work drawn from the experience I’ve had. The role will evolve,’’ he said.

“Being involved in turning Croke Park around from a rugby to a soccer venue in 12 hours and the staging of the U2 concerts was a great experience. I do think being involved with Croke Park carries an awful lot of weight because it is held in high regard.”

The Olympic brief will involve a different level of work for Duffy. At present there are six people in Croke Park’s financial department, whereas he will be one of 40 answering to the Chief Financial Officer in their office in Canary Wharf.

Aside from trying to ensure a well run Olympics and Paralympics, Duffy will also be part of the bid to ensure the massive investment in London 2012 does not become a white elephant.

Since the curtain came down on the last Olympics in Beijing, the iconic Bird’s Nest stadium has been used only twice, a situation those in the English capital will be keen to avoid.