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Laois GAA Delegates To Have 'Free Vote' On Proposal B

Tuesday, 19 October 2021 11:45

A decision on reform of the football championship will take place on Saturday.

Laois GAA delegates at special congress this weekend will have free reign on their vote to reform the football championship. 

In a landscape that is shifting constantly, it looks as if 'proposal A' will be dropped and an amended version of the league based format known as 'proposal B' will go to the floor for a vote on Saturday. 

This follows comments from former GAA president John Horan in which he floated the idea of a two year trial period from 2023 being on the table.

There's been a strong show of support for the league based championship from the Gaelic Players Association and a sizable group of active players because of the increased number of games during the summer months contained in the plans. 

However questions have been raised at provincial council level about the financial aspect of the proposal and the distribution of funds centrally. 

There's also concerns about the increased cost of preparaing for the extra fixtures (believed to be in the region of €10,000) for counties with smaller budgets.

The potential for five or six extra fixtures will mean a significant further investment in the coffers is required. 

Offaly and Westmeath have declared their intention to vote as a group in favour of the restructuring following consultation with their players. 

Speaking following a meeting of the Laois GAA executive last night, chairman Peter O'Neill spoke about the fluctuating situation to Midlands103:

'Anything that gives more games and greater competition to teams.

We're looking at it from a Laois point of view and our players have come forwad they want more games. They probably at the present time favour proposal B but from my meetings with Croke Park, it's a complete moving tide and I dont know what is going to be on the floor Saturday and that's what I told the committee last night.

Our stance is we want what's best for our players and for Laois, and the truth is I dont know what's going to be on the floor on Saturday because there's going to be amendements and changes.

It's newsworthy that John Horan proposed that 'proposal A' is dropped and 'B' goes forward for a trial period in 2023/24, but until we see what is going to be on the floor it is very hard to make a decision. 

We know where our leanings are but also there's a lot of questions to be asked and they have to be answered.

Financially all proposals are around the same so thats not really an issue. The issue is the distribution of the funds down to provincial council and to the counties.

More matches is grand but do we have to raise another €50,000 or €60,000 or does that come down from Croke Park. At the end of the day we've taken from the direction from the clubs last night and have to wait and see what is on the table.' 

 

 

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