Armagh hit back in sponsorship row

A row has developed in Armagh after the county board yesterday responded to criticisms made by former sponsor Hugh Morgan.

Fuel merchant Morgan, who had been associated with Armagh GAA since 1995 up until this past season, yesterday released a statement announcing he was severing all commercial ties with the board.

In it, Morgan claimed the county board had not used sponsorship money to invest in the county’s teams and had failed “to take decisive and strategic action to stem the decline of Armagh football.”

Morgan said the breakdown of his relationship with the county board was precipitated by a disagreement regarding formalising a strategy for football in the county.

However, the Irish Examiner has learned the county board were compelled to seek new sponsorship for next season after a number of issues arose in their partnership with Morgan with which they were unhappy.

Last week, Rainbow Communications were announced as the seniors’ new sponsor with Simply Fruit backing the minors.

Although Morgan approached the board last year about obtaining the naming rights of the Athletic Grounds, the payment for them has been a source of contention for officials.

Despite that, they were understood to be willing to allow Morgan to retain the naming rights in the hope the situation would improve.

However, Morgan’s decision put an end to that idea and following his statement they were compelled to release one of their own through secretary Paddy Óg Nugent.

“Coiste Chontae Ard Mhacha are disappointed with Mr Morgan’s response to our new sponsorship arrangements since at all times we endeavour to conduct our affairs with discretion and integrity.

“While our partnership with Morgan Fuels has been prosperous and mutually respectful for many years, recently some complications have arisen regarding the sponsorship of Ard Mhacha. We wish him and his company well and would like to thank him sincerely for his contribution to our county over the past 17 years.”

In an emotional statement, Morgan claimed his financial commitment to Armagh since 1995 to this year amounted to a seven-figure sum.

However, Morgan said he recently become alarmed by “a serious decline in the atmosphere prevailing at County level matches, reflected in poor results and the souring of key relationships.”

He continued: “As the principal sponsor of the county teams and of the Athletic Grounds, we have been in a very difficult position. Not only have we increasingly found ourselves at odds with the county board over their failure to provide the branding and corporate hospitality benefits that were to be provided as part of our sponsorship agreements, but even more importantly, over their failure to take decisive and strategic action to stem the decline of Armagh football.”

Morgan said he felt the board had become “complacent” about his company’s financial support.

Morgan expressed his best wishes to Armagh GAA and their sponsors for the future.

Morgan made the news headlines last year when he claimed to have given a political donation of €5,000 to Presidential candidate Sean Gallagher in 2008.