Injection of cash needed for league green light... €20,000-a-week bill without fans isn't sustainable, warns Cavan chief

Money ball: Cavan made the All Ireland semi-final, but don’t know when they will play again

Money ball: Cavan made the All Ireland semi-final, but don’t know when they will play again

�INPHO/James Crombie

Funding plea: Feargal McGill

�INPHO/James Crombie

Money ball: Cavan made the All Ireland semi-final, but don’t know when they will play again

Declan Bogue Twitter

January 18 2021 07:33 AM

It now appears extremely likely that without intervention from the Irish Government, the GAA's National League programme may not proceed, with one county alone predicting a £178,000 cost of preparing their county team.

While a previous meeting with County chairmen was broadly positive about teams returning to a programme of games split into regional sections, north and south, last week's meeting of county treasurers had a very different feel, with Cavan Treasurer Martin Cahill outlaying a very different perspective.

"There was a lot of frustration from treasurers that the league was announced and nobody seemed to be cognisant of the fact that it was going to take a lot of money to put teams out to play in it," he said.

Prior to Christmas, a meeting of the GAA's Finance Committee was held in which the suggestion was made to proceed with club action first, so that if the county season could be hosted after the Covid vaccine worked its way through the population, the possibility of crowds attending could allow for some incoming funds.

"It was discussed before Christmas, the Finance Committee wasn't really listened to," said Cahill.

"I would say for the 10 weeks from February 1, you are talking about €20,000 a week to run your county hurling and football teams.

"The championship was heavily under-written by the government, we are told now that there is no central funding from Croke Park and there is unlikely to be government money."

Obtaining Government funding was very much the intention of the GAA back in December. During a press conference to announce their plans on the 19th, the GAA Director of Player, Club and Games Administration Feargal McGill stated: "We will find a way, as we always have of financing competitions. It would be terrific if the Government would help us again, but we will just have to wait and see on that."

Asked if they would actively pursue that, he continued: "I think so. We can have those conversations. We have not had them yet. Obviously, everyone in sport is looking for Government help, it is not just the GAA. Down the road, I have no doubt those conversations will take place."

Some counties will have greater operational costs than others.

For many, the main outlay can be travel, and counties with several players based long distances away, such as Mayo players in Dublin for example, are paying more than counties in major urban centres where players do not have to move from for employment.

As things are now, the GAA are expecting to post a loss of €17m for 2021 when all operating costs are met.

At present, costs are being kept down with all team training currently grounded as the infection rate had been rising after Christmas. It is due to be lifted again after January, but there is a belief that this will be extended to mid-February.

The leagues can cope with a later starting date, perhaps a fortnight later without too much disruption. With the infection rates now on the way down, this is the most likely course of action.

It's already agreed that Central Council will foot the bill for mileage and nutritional expenses themselves in 2021, under the agreement of two training sessions midweek and a match or training session at the weekend. Ultimately though, this will be charged back to the counties in time.

Without any sense that crowds are going to be allowed back in to watch intercounty games in 2021, another approach will be made to the Government for funding, while there is significant goodwill towards the GAA from their competition sponsors and broadcast deals.

However, those handed the responsibility of the bottom line are not convinced by the haste on show.

"The treasurers were saying 'do we need to run with this now?' said Cahill.

"I don't think there was anyone saying not to run a National League but the feeling was that if we could hold it off until later in the year, we might be able to have gate receipts and venue rental.

"We are running a competition that nobody can go to and it would cost Cavan alone €200,000. The timing of it is what most people cannot get. There are massive concerns from the financial end of things.

"I think we should hold off for a couple of months. Even on a wider level, players going about their business as normal in the current situation with cases rising and so on is probably not a good look for the association either."

Injection of cash needed for league green light... €20,000-a-week bill without fans isn't sustainable, warns Cavan chief

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