Lynch: Legalising payments a wrong move

FORMER GAA PRO and policy maker Danny Lynch has warned legalising payments to team managers will do nothing to curb unregulated remuneration of inter-county bosses.

Lynch has cautioned those believing any of the payment models listed in GAA director general Páraic Duffy’s discussion paper will copper-fasten the integrity of the organisation at the same time deservedly rewarding managers for their time and efforts.

Lynch, who stepped down from his Croke Park position in 2009, is adamant introducing such a system of remuneration will do nothing for the GAA in attempting to address under-the-table payments.

He sees any system of remuneration introduced being abused by the bigger counties.

“Some commentators’ favoured option seems to be paying managers, but I don’t think that will change anything for the better,” said Lynch. “All it will mean is managers who are not being paid now will be paid and the economically stronger counties with greater attendances and greater profiles will pay managers more.”

Lynch insists the GAA being seen to deal with their amateur status being flouted via a managers payments structure is not sufficient enough when weighed up against the ramifications of such a decision.

“For those who think legalising payments is the answer I think there are many, many adverse side-effects that would want to be seriously considered before passing judgement.

“From a GAA perspective, it might take the suggestion that they’re hypocritical in the application of the amateur status rule off the agenda. But it would have far more undesirable repercussions. The whole area of taxation, employment right issues and further professionalising the playing side of the Association are just three to mention.”

Lynch remains unconvinced by the arguments put forward in support of managers, especially outside ones, being remunerated for provision of their services. He also suggests the GAA at grassroots level are mostly in adherence of the amateur status rule.

“The general membership has proven at club level to by and large subscribe to the notion that payments to managers is not what the Association is about. But these managers who club-hop and county-hop... don’t anyone try and tell me they are not being generously rewarded for their efforts whatever about money. Don’t anyone try and tell me it’s for their love of the game because it most certainly is not. Their motives are a lot more material than that.”

Lynch also believes the release of the discussion paper less than three months before Liam O’Neill succeeds Christy Cooney as GAA President does no favours for the Laois man.

Although there is the possibility the process could be completed before Cooney steps down from office, Duffy has set a time-frame of six months for most of the work to be completed, which would take in the early months of O’Neill’s stewardship.

“The timing of having this issue on the agenda is unfortunate in the sense that an incoming president who’s had minimal input in the creating of the agenda will end up with a very difficult task of implementing any related decisions taken,” remarked Lynch.