GAA President accuses managers
of accepting underhand payments
 By David
Thorpe
The Irish Tax authorities are to launch an investigation into alleged
under-the-counter payments to GAA managers.
Comments from GAA President Nicky Brennan — who said this week that
he believes managers at club and county level are receiving “off
the books payments” to manage teams — sparked the tax investigation,
and some high-profile club and county managers are likely to come under
the microscope.
Tax officials are now likely to pursue evidence of illegal payments
to managers by scrutinising the accounts of County Boards and supporters
clubs with the money to pay managers often coming from wealthy supporters’
organisations who do not have to present accounts to anyone which means
the money is difficult to trace.
Mr. Brennan, a former manager of both the Kilkenny senior hurling and
football teams, has long been a vocal opponent of managers receiving payment
and vowed that during his time as GAA president efforts would be made
to end the practice.
The GAA President’s comments were backed up by new Galway manager
Ger Loughnane who said that payments to managers at club and county level
were widespread and that the individuals involved should be honest about
the money they are receiving.
He said: “Everyone knows it’s going on — more so maybe
at club level. The belief is that a high-profile manager can boost the
confidence and morale of players and, to be honest, if they can do that
and do achieve the results then I don’t see why they shouldn’t
be paid but they need to be more honest about it.”
Croke Park officials are opposed to managers receiving payment because
they believe it would strengthen the case for players to be paid.
It has been widely known for many years in GAA circles that team managers
were being paid. Rumored figures of up to £13,000 per-year for club
sides have been bounding about for some time while some top county managers
are thought to be paid far in excess of this.
Nicky Brennan believes that this creates an unfair advantage for certain
counties.
He said: “One of the great things about the GAA is the amateur status
which allows a level playing field for all. If richer counties can pay
more, then they have an advantage and that goes against everything the
GAA stands for.”
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