Conway rallies against GPA deal

‘OF ONE BELIEF’ founder Mark Conway has warned the GAA will have learnt nothing from Ireland’s economic disaster if it backs the proposed €8 million plus five-year official recognition deal with the GPA.

The Tyrone man, who has been an outspoken critic of the players body, expressed fears that by approving the agreement the GAA will repeat the grave financial mistakes made by the country’s banking institutions.

“Some of us would say from a distance we’re in a disastrous position,” said Conway.

“Where Ireland went corporately three years ago the GAA is now going three years on.

“This idea of throwing money at the people who make the most noise was part of what corrupted Ireland and destroyed it and we’re now doing it in the GAA.”

Conway is demanding that the GAA be given a detailed breakdown of the proposed deal, including the monies that would be given to outside agencies commissioned by the GPA as well as the salaries of the organisation’s full-time employees.

“There needs to be serious questions about this money and how much of it is going out to mentors, etc? What are the levels of salaries in the GPA? What were the things we were planning to do that can’t now be done because of the money?

“We ask those questions and if there was democracy they would be answered. We asked last year what we were paying our own people and were shot down from a great height. There’s a climate of secrecy, the same nonsense about the bankers three years ago. We have been told that people don’t need to know this, that we’re okay, that we’re competitive, that the auditors have signed off. We are told we don’t need to know.

“The same rubbish is being trotted out and it’s shameful.

“The other shameful thing is that the top table dictates to counties how to vote on these things. In Congress last year, the Tyrone Central Council delegate was told to vote against the Tyrone motion regarding the GPA. That’s a perversion of democracy to me.”

Conway revealed the annual €1.6m cost of running the GPA is the same amount as the once-off grant given to the Tyrone County Board by the GAA for their Garvaghey centre project.

“That will deliver on all aspects for the GAA, boys and girls, club members of all ages and the star players.

“We’re being given €1.6 million in grant aid from the GAA and that’s it in its totality, for all time. The GPA are getting that in a year. The Garvaghey project is going to create 70 to 100 real jobs, pouring concrete, bricklaying etc. If people are serious about making a serious contribution to the disastrous circumstances we find ourselves in Ireland that’s the way to do it.”

Conway admitted his interest group Of One Belief are unlikely to respond officially to news of the proposed agreement.

“Of One Belief was an ad hoc group made up of like-minded people who were concerned about players getting hard cash. We weren’t saying we would be the other side of the coin or the voice of the grassroots — that would have been the height of arrogance on our part. We lost that battle. We don’t fool ourselves on that.”