Former Dublin boss Pat Gilroy resigns from Croke Park management committee

Gilory cited his opposition to the direction the GAA is taking to generating revenue and possibly paying managers.

RESIGNED: Former Dublin manager Pat Gilroy jas resigned from the Croke Park management committee. Pic: ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry

Former Dublin senior football manager Pat Gilroy has resigned from the management committee of Croke Park, citing his opposition to the direction the GAA is taking to generating revenue and possibly paying managers.

The 2011 All-Ireland SFC winning boss, who also steps away from the GAA’s audit and risk committee, confirmed to the Irish Daily Mirror that he has left Páirc An Chrócaigh Teoranta (PCT) after four years.

Gilroy mentioned to the newspaper that he put his resignation in writing to the GAA but has yet to receive a reply.

He has heard a motion to pay managers is on the Clár of Special Congress next week. If that is the case, it is likely to be an undertaking to discuss the possibility at a later date. GAA president Jarlath Burns last month floated the idea of potentially contracting inter-county managers.

The St Vincent’s man is perturbed at what he considers movements by the GAA away from its amateur and community ethos.

“In the last three or four months, the GAA has been going down a path that I don't think is compatible with what the organisation should be.

“The things that are concerning me is this talk of paying managers, and the use of Croke Park. I'm all for helping the likes of the rugby when they're in trouble.”

Gilroy continued: "The idea of a blanket payment to managers, the idea of a paid Dublin manager standing in front of players who aren't being paid. I can't get my head around it.

“I can't be part of the board of Croke Park which, ultimately, will need to make more money to fund this, because we don't have TV rights that will pay for a professional sport.”

Gilroy is the current senior hurling manager of St Vincent’s and had been previously linked with the GAA director general’s position. He was part of the 10-person committee that devised the GAA’s five-year strategic plan; “Aontas 2026 – Towards One GAA for All”.