Farrell: Respect amateur roots

WESTMEATH County Board chairman Tom Farrell called on the GAA to respect its amateur status and said any change in policy can only be implemented by voluntary officials.

Addressing club delegates at the packed County Convention in the Rosemount GAA Centre on Saturday, Farrell stressed the importance of the association respecting the roles of amateurs in the GAA.

“The strength of our association has been always our voluntary ethos,” he said.

“We do need to find a balance between elected policy makers making decisions which should be implemented by full-time people, and full-time people suggesting initiatives which can only be implemented by already overworked volunteers.

“A balance has to be found which would lead to more work being done efficiently on behalf of the association.”

Delegates were also told Westmeath GAA is in extremely difficult financial situation, with a debt of €248,172 to face.

That comes after they wrote off a loan of more than €60,000 to the Hurling Board and €80,000 sponsorship from the Hilamar Hotel, after its owner, Robert Bagnall, ran into severe financial difficulties.

County board treasurer Denis Coyne told delegates there was “no point in flogging a dead horse”.

He said the main sponsor, Hilamar Hotel, had been very good to Westmeath GAA over the years.

Coyne admitted the loan from the Hurling Board wasn’t going to be repaid and said the write off was merely a matter of adjusting the figures.

Ironically, the books show the Hurling Board had an income of €135,768 in the last year, a decrease of about €27,000 on the previous term. They spent €122,205 on the running of their county teams, compared to the €252,843 spent on the county’s footballers.

“I am entering my final year as treasurer and felt the books should be clear for whoever takes over,” added Coyne.

County board secretary Pat Lynagh warned: “We live in very difficult times and difficult decisions may have to be made going forward in relation to finance.

“Gate receipts fell by nearly €50,000 in the last year.”

There are doubts about the financial strength of the organisation in Westmeath, after just 13 of the 47 clubs submitted their financial records last year. Croke Park policy demands all clubs have their accounts examined to ensure they are strong enough to survive, but less than 30% of clubs in Westmeath are obeying that.

The chairman warned clubs who refuse to comply will not be affiliated in 2012.