Leinster chairman backs homegrown-only managers

By John Fogarty

Leinster chairman John Horan has given his support to the idea of managers exclusively appointed to positions within their own counties and clubs.

The suggestion, which has long been supported by Joe Brolly, was made by Horan in his address to annual convention in Arklow last Friday night.

Horan even claimed an individual last year sought close to a six-figure sum to take a county role.

Stating the payment of managers is an area the GAA "have never addressed", he said: "The successful teams in our championships generally have home grown managers.

"We are a community-based organisation and with that in mind we should introduce regulations in regard to managers having a genuine link to the club and county they are training.

"The problem is probably even bigger at club level than at inter county.

"Recently, an individual presented for interview for a county job looking for near on six figures and he hasn’t even a burned pot to his name.

"Before we make changes we need a good education programme driven through and a timeline on when we introduce regulations, such as you played for the club or your children are now involved.

"At county level you have to be from the county or we give exemptions to certain small counties.

"This is not to be blind to the fact that some local county managers have financial demands at the moment."

After Galway were denied entry to the Leinster minor and U21 Championships by the province last year, Horan proposes a mini round robin competition be established to assist them.

"If one looks at the number of All Irelands Galway have won since 1999 as against what the whole of Leinster have won it is easy to see how the decision was arrived at.

They have won six titles and only Kilkenny from Leinster have won any and that total coming to five.

"Galway do have a justifiable argument that the system is failing them but I suggest that a round robin group of themselves, Antrim and the two beaten provincial finalists with the top two going into the All-Ireland semi-finals," he said.

"This. I feel, would give Galway meaningful matches that in fairness they deserve. These games would benefit all involved rather than just doing training sessions at that time in the season."

Horan also hit back at those who criticised Leinster's decision not to move Dublin's SFC quarter-final against Longford or Offaly out of Croke Park.

"Dublin playing their matches in Croke Park is another hardy annual the media drag up in the silly season," he said.

"From the finance report presented here tonight, it is obvious that the income generated from the games with Dublin in Croke Park proves a huge benefit to all other counties in the province with the excess at the year-end being distributed to the counties.

"At this stage I feel the media need to move on."

The province are submitting a motion to Congress later this month proposing a round robin stage of their senior football championship to give weaker counties a running start with a means to make the competition more competitive.

Horan said: "I believe this aspect of the championship may benefit weaker counties get a run under their belt and offer more to a potential sponsor with the exposure these games will give counties.

"To continue to do the same all the time with similar outcomes is not a good way to do business.

"I would call on all counties to support the motion and then we can engage in a serious internal provincial debate if and by what means we progress the matter."

Dubliner Horan also expressed concern about the GAA's plans to reduce funding to the likes of bigger counties like his own and Cork to assist smaller ones.

"I would be a great supporter of equalisation but the manner in which it is implemented is of great importance," he said.

"This should be done from the bottom up and I hope that the recent distribution of funds from the hurling replay to the Carlows, Leitrims, Sligos and others is an indication of the way it will be done.

"Taking monies from those that have money be it by prudent management or other means will only prove divisive.

"I feel concert money going forward could solve the problem."