Connacht to meet IRFU over financial plight

CONNACHT CHIEF executive Gerry Kelly is to meet the IRFU management committee today to discuss the ongoing financial plight of the province.

Their difficulties were further highlighted by the 15-13 home defeat to Benetton Treviso last Saturday, their eighth successive loss and third straight at The Sportsground.

What was initially greeted as a historic breakthrough season is entering nightmare territory. Qualification for the Heineken Cup, via Leinster winning the competition, only came after four frontline players – Ian Keatley, Fionn Carr, Jamie Hagan and Seán Cronin – had signed for Leinster and Munster (Keatley).

Of 12 players recruited only two have started more than 50 per cent of the Pro 12 fixtures to date.

“It’s professional sport; it is all about money,” said Elwood ahead of Gloucester’s visit to Galway on Saturday afternoon.

“Money and recruitment. The guys put their body on the line and front-up week in, week out but we all need help and assistance.

“But if you want to talk about money go talk to Gerry Kelly. Or talk to the PGB (The Professional Game Board, who were appointed this season with a three-year mandate to improve structures in the province).”

Kelly said yesterday: “I wouldn’t describe it as a crisis but it is difficult. Our season ticket sales have increased from 600 to 3,120 and there has been an improvement of facilities at The Sportsground.

“Since the World Cup final there is 13 matches in a row and that will stretch a small squad like ours. This season the limitations and size of the squad have been exposed more than in an ordinary season.”

Elwood vented his frustrations at having to operate with just 29 full-time players, especially when injury is factored into the equation. “We won the under-20s this year,” said Elwood. “But they are not ready. They are too young. They are not experienced. They are not developed physically. They have to wait their turn and bide their time.

“We have only 29 full-time players. We lost four first-teamers last year. We are not a team that can survive on 29 contracted players and seven development. I have a list here with 17 injuries.

“If you are asking me straight up: we don’t have enough money, we don’t have a big enough budget and we don’t have a big enough squad.”

Gloucester have 38 players registered for the Heineken Cup, while Leinster’s first-team squad currently numbers 41. At present, Connacht’s player wages budget is €3 million, all of which comes from the IRFU. The other provinces receive more funds from the union because they have more Irish internationals and therefore higher centrally contracted wages.

Connacht sources stated the €3 million for player salaries was 40 per cent of the European champion’s budget but Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson stated the figure of €7.5 million was some way over the actual amount they pay in player wages. “We don’t reveal these figures,” said Dawson yesterday.

Connacht have already begun their recruitment process for next season. But they are going to require financial assistance. Despite dramatic improvements, they still don’t generate anything near the gate receipts enjoyed at Thomond Park, Ravenhill and the RDS (Leinster season ticket sales are 13,500). They don’t compete favourably with their commercial investments either.

The other provinces also receive higher private donations. Leinster’s hugely successful academy is assisted by a patron’s scheme.

“Any coach and any squad are going to look for more money and we are continuously doing that,” said Kelly.

“We need and want a stronger squad and will be talking to the IRFU about that.”

The provinces can contract five foreign players and a sixth who can be naturalised through residency. This will be reduced to four plus one next season.

Connacht’s “plus one” is prop Rodney Ah You, while next October Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss becomes Irish qualified.

“There is no doubt the losing of four starters – Hagan, Cronin, Keatley and Carr had a huge impact on us,” said Kelly.

He added: “If you look at the first weekend of the Heineken Cup only one of them got a game and that was Seán Cronin [off the bench for Leinster].

“We will be working with the IRFU to make sure that doesn’t happen in future.”