Amateurism crucial issue, says Mulvihill

AT the Dublin county convention in Parnell Park on Saturday, the GAA's director general, Liam Mulvihill, strongly indicated opposition to any erosion of the association's amateur ethos.

His comments on the issue related to the Croke Park subcommittee appointed at the end of last year and concerned the issue of whether players would be hallowed to benefit from product endorsement. There has been a growing belief that some form of commercial involvement would be permitted.

"Since the appointment of the sub committee," Mulvihill said, "there has been speculation, and I would be worried at what's being said. We should remember that any sport - athletics, rugby - which has liberated its players in terms of endorsements has found itself on a slippery slope where the matter has got quickly out of "control.

"Rugby decided initially to allow endorsements on a players pool basis and it was often said that no one wanted to be paid for playing. We all know what happened within a short two years. I agree that we have not always been treating players as well as they should be treated and that has to change, but we should think long and carefully before making changes that will impact on our status as a voluntary organisation."

He also went on to give details of the £407,000 that Croke Park has granted to Dublin, in addition to an interest free loan of £200,000.

This referred back to the report of Dublin county secretary John Costello, who had outlined the difficulties besetting the GAA in Dublin and echoed a strident debate during which county chairman John Bailey was put under pressure by delegates - particularly Brendan McGrath, chairman of the St Vincent's club - to reveal the true state of the county's accounts in a "reader friendly" way.

It was announced that Dublin's total indebtedness was in the region £1,700,000 - £732,150 of an overdraft; £200,000 a Croke Park loan; £400,000 owed to builders for development of Parnell Park; a further £278,000 owed in respect of Parnell Park; £100,000 sundry creditors.

Bailey, in his address, was upbeat about the financial situation. "At present we are in negotiations with Croke Park and the Leinster Council with a view to assisting us in our present situation. I am satisfied from our talks to date that a major development will be forthcoming in the near future. I believe we should set the year 2000 as the goal by which to have our debt cleared."

The motion to allow a county chairman serve more than five years in office was passed but not by the necessary two thirds majority, so Bailey - returned unanimously at the convention - is now embarking on his final year.

The convention also passed a motion forbidding the transfer of players at any time up to and including minor level except in the cases of permanent change of residence and where both clubs agree.

. Fears that some GAA fixtures in County Kildare may have to be, abandoned because not enough referees are available were expressed at the Kildare GAA convention yesterday.

There were calls for referees to be recruited at a younger age instead of turning to newly retired players to become match officials.

Chairman Jack Wall said more referees must come forward and he criticised the level of abuse directed at officials by spectators during games. "There must be more support for referees on and off the field or our games will grind to a halt," he told the meeting.