Motion on outside managers unlikely to make Congress

 

The GAA’s amateur status review committee is likely to stick with its own proposals ahead of Congress in February.

The likes of the games development committee and other leading GAA figures have recommended phasing out the outside manager at club and county level.

The idea, which was previously floated by Clare club Wolfe Tones in 2018 but soundly defeated, has gained traction in a number of counties. It is also believed it could be an easier sell than the amateur status body’s options of providing a stipend to managers or making them contracted employees of the GAA.

However, the David Hassan-led body are expected to go ahead with their own plans. At Special Congress last month, GAA president Jarlath Burns, who commissioned the committee, admitted it was unlikely the motions that will going forward will pass. “They are going to be a bit radical,” he told delegates.

“We did go around the country, and we did do a lot of consultation. I just fear that this part of my presidency will not succeed, to be honest with you. There are a lot of varying views about what the amateur status means to players and to counties and to everybody else.

“Essentially, what we are trying to achieve is that it is going to be easier for our county players to play the game and live their lives, and it is going to be easier for our counties to pay for playing the game at the highest level.

“That is the two biggest things that our amateur status committee are trying to achieve. I sort of get the feeling that, when we go around the country, everybody wants change, but not too many people want to change.” 

Meanwhile, Irish nutrition company Fulfil are set to take over as sponsors of the U20 All-Ireland hurling championship. Known for their protein snack bars, Fulfil have been in operation since 2016 and were bought by global confectionery company Ferrero three years ago.

Fulfil are set to take over from O’Neills sportswear who had been sponsoring the competition the past three seasons. O’Neills replaced Bord Gáis Energy who had been associated with the competition between 2008 and ’21 prior to becoming one of the associate sponsors of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship. 

Including inaugural backers Erin, Fulfil will be the competition’s fourth ever sponsor.