‘Handful’ of counties are in financial danger zone

LEINSTER COUNCIL secretary Michael Delaney has warned that a handful of counties in the province are in danger of falling into “serious financial difficulty”.

In his annual report, he will leave delegates at Saturday’s Council AGM in the Longford Arms Hotel under no illusion as to the precarious financial situation facing all units of the association in Leinster.

The council itself has taken severe belt-tightening measures in the last 12 months in order to balance their books after the 2010 championship season in which attendances were down appreciably.

“It is no great secret that a number of clubs in the province are in very serious financial difficulties,” says Delaney in his latest report. “One or two of our county committees may be heading in that direction also.

“I am not, in the least, suggesting a bail out response from the council but we cannot stand on the sidelines and watch any of our units go past the point of no return. Hopefully, all this is cyclical and in a few years’ time we can all look back and talk about the bad old days.

“Nevertheless, we must plan and act for the long haul. This means prudent managing of our finances now and to achieve this we need the support of all the stakeholders. I am confident that we will survive, and prosper, if this is forthcoming.”

The council has itself suffered in the unfavourable climate and its own financial situation has mirrored that of the country as a whole. It’s finances soared in the beginning to mid-2000s, came to a peak in 2007 and have been in decline ever since.

Figures released yesterday showed that the council’s income for the year was down approximately €1.1m on the 12 months before. Another worrying indicator was the €787,000 drop in championship gate receipts.

During the good times, the council was able to distribute grant aid liberally to clubs and counties, operations were extended into coaching and games development and more and more staff were appointed to support the new structures.

Reality has now set in. Grants to units for the development of facilities have been radically downsized and counties with projects for grounds or centres of excellence are being informed that provincial funding may shrink or even evaporate altogether.

Officials in Leinster, mindful of the strain on supporters, are also carrying out a review of ticket prices for 2011 and examining potentially attractive ticketing packages – a policy Delaney want the counties to follow.

Provincial chairman Sheamus Howlin also makes mention of the economic situation and will point out that a Finance Advisory Committee was established in 2008 to advise clubs and counties on best practice.

However, Howlin feels more may need to be done and has proposed that individual counties should consider setting up their own Finance Advisory Groups, which would be manned by locals who are not GAA members but well versed in financial matters.

Economics aside, the council also suffered a difficult time last summer in the wake of the controversial Leinster football final between Meath and Louth and Delaney has apologised for the council’s handling of the aftermath.

Though speculation and rumours flew in the days after Joe Sheridan’s illegal winning goal and Martin Sludden’s decision to allow it, the council was conspicuous only by its silence and utter failure to take the lead on the matter.

“Let there be no doubt, Meath are the 2010 Leinster senior football champions. They had an outstanding campaign from their first round all the way to the final – something which is overlooked by many in reviewing the championships.

“I said it at the time and now I say it again – the Meath players, management and county committee should never have been placed in the situation of deciding whether or not the final should have been replayed.

“The simple fact is that there is absolutely no provision in our rules for such a course of action. All of us in administration must shoulder the blame for allowing speculation develop to the contrary.”