Official row to be aired at a.g.m.

The a.g.m. of the Irish Cycling Federation (ICF) on November 25th looks set to be particularly confrontational after a recent vote of no confidence against president Mick Lawless, and the ongoing tension between national team director Richie Beatty and some members of the board.

On many occasions this year disharmony and argument have prevented the smooth running of the ICF. There have been no board meetings since the vote of no confidence against Lawless on August 26th, details of which were communicated to club secretaries in a letter at the beginning of this month.

According to the communique, all bar one of the eight board members present at the August 26th meeting supported the vote of no confidence, namely Paddy Doran, Liam Leahy, Ciaran McKenna, Sean O'Callaghan, Peter Purfield, Peter Thornton and Jack Watson. Absent member Maurice Murphy later expressed his support for the action, while Tommy Campbell was the sole supporter of Lawless.

In the letter, 12 reasons were given for the dissatisfaction with the new president, mainly dealing with the appointment of the Olympic team manager and second official, but also criticising Lawless. According to Ciaran McKenna, acting PRO and signatory of the letter, Lawless has "often gone against board decisions when he should have supported us".

However, when contacted yesterday Lawless refuted the criticisms, saying: "I am very disappointed that they took this action (sending the letter) and also in taking the vote of no confidence because it serves no purpose whatsoever. "A lot of the points are really, really petty, and some of them have been dragged up after they have been settled."

Disputing the board's position on many of the points raised, Lawless stated that he feels he is being criticised for having an approach which doesn't always echo that of the letter's signatories. "I am being singled out because I have my own point of view regarding how things should be done," he said. "But I have dealt with each and every one of the points raised in a letter which I am in the process of circulating, and this will clarify my position."

Lawless indicated that he is determined to continue as president, stating that he is "doing the job to the best of my abilities".

With no board meetings since late August, the net result of the impasse is that this year's a.g.m. will be highly strung.

Transparency and accountability are needed by all involved; no better reason for a strong club attendance on November 25th.