The full extent of the financial crisis afflicting Roscommon GAA will be outlined tonight at a special meeting of the county board which will take place in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon. It is now estimated the debt is more than €1.5 million.

It had been reported recently the board would have to find an extra €100,000 every year for the next 15 years to clear their spiralling debts. However, the figure might even be greater and the full picture will only emerge tonight when chairman Stephen Banahan gives a report on the finances.

The county's financial crisis came to light earlier this year when it emerged that the board hadn't paid the Connacht GAA Council for tickets sold last year.

At a recent meeting, Banahan was critical of the "rumours" circulating around the county about the state of the board's finances.

Coming on top of the approximate €500,000 it takes to run the day-to-day affairs of the county, the loan repayments will place an enormous burden on a small county without a major industrial base.

Banahan recently revealed the county lottery, which had 2,600 members just over a year ago, now has only 600 members. He has appealed to clubs to sell these tickets in an effort to generate badly-needed finance.

Four financial institutions were invited to tender for the loan, and terms have been agreed with one.

However, Roscommon cannot enter into the deal until it has been sanctioned by the Connacht Council and Croke Park.

Banahan said €400,000 had been spent on a new all-weather and floodlit pitch at Kilbride. The county board do not own this ground, but they have entered into an agreement with Kilbride GAA club - Banahan's own club - whereby they develop the ground and have priority usage of it.

He said this €400,000 did not impact on the board's finances, as separate money was raised for it, including €50,000 at a golf classic in Galway.