Report on pay for managers finally goes before Croker
Duffy’s new draft of the document could now be released 14 months after the original was first circulated privately among committee members.
At last year’s Congress in April, GAA President Christy Cooney, terming payments to managers as “a cancer running through our organisation”, said he intended staging a discussion forum within two months, where the paper would be released.
In November, Cooney explained something would be done in relation to it during the off-season.
The exact reason why Duffy has altered the document remains unclear. While it’s understood he doesn’t come to any conclusions in the paper, he outlines a number of options available to the GAA in addressing the issue.
However, it was thought some of the suggestions made were too drastic to release into the public domain.
Tipperary’s Con Hogan, a member of Coiste Bainisti and former GAA presidential candidate, insists the subect of payments to managers has to be debated openly.
“There’s no doubt the question of how we organise the recognition of managers has to be addressed,” said Hogan.
“We’re in a situation now where we’re in a limbo. That’s just not healthy. Sooner or later, we have to deal with where the manager fits into the organisation. Currently, they don’t fit anywhere.
“Inter-county management is one thing but what about club management? That’s not a simple area to address.”
In December 2010, Hogan floated the idea of a super-coach/director in a full-time role encompassing the senior county manager’s position as well as others.
He understands it might discommode individuals already in coaching positions in counties but maintains there is merit in the idea.
“It’s another approach that could be considered, the idea that a county could have a coach that would not alone look after the county team but get involved in the games (development).
“Of course, there is a problem with it. It’s another layer on what’s already there. Where does that person fit in where there are other people already in roles within the county? That’s the difficulty.
“But the concept about somebody taking over a county, the senior team as well as other teams and going into the schools should be thought about. You think out loud on these things and brainstorm solutions and I’m still not convinced that there is no merit in that. The only question is where does it fit into the system.”
Duffy’s position on tackling an issue which contradicts the amateur ethos of the Association is clear.
In his report to Congress in 2010, he wrote: “The least acceptable option is to continue to proclaim a value and, at the same time, ignore it.“And expressing a determination to address the issue(genuine as the intention may be) is meaningless unless followed by effective action.”
Speaking to the Irish Examiner earlier this month, former GAA President Peter Quinn, who led a previous investigation into payments to managers, said he had no problem with managers getting paid providing it was all done above board.
“I don’t have any great problem with payments to managers but it should be controlled and if they’re going to get paid, there should be control and they should become employees, just as (county) secretaries are. I don’t believe in under-the-table payments and‘shamateurism’. I don’t believe it’s good financial management.”
Meanwhile, referees are expected to come under scrutiny from the Revenue in the coming months.
A number of enquiries about match fees were made by the Revenue to county boards last year but it’s believed they will be now ramped up as boards’ finances are thoroughly examined.
Approximately €40 is paid to referees for officiating each senior club championship game and there is concern among match officials they might shortly receive letters similar to the pensioners.
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