GPA chief executive Paul Flynn has hit back at GAA director general Tom Ryan’s comments on spending on inter-county teams.
In his annual report issued yesterday, Ryan suggested introducing a spending cap after the collective outlay of county boards on senior inter-county teams came to almost €30m in 2019, an increase of nearly 12% on 2018, which Carlow native said was “not sustainable”.
The GAA and GPA are currently trying thrash out a deal after the latest arrangement between them expired at the end of last year, though it rolls over into 2020 for now.
A statement from Flynn, which runs to more than 800 words, acknowledged Ryan’s “constructive comments on the ongoing negotiations” before unleashing his frustration at what he feels is the GPA being painted as the GAA’s “problem child”.
“Far from being a problem child, inter-county games, and the players that make them the spectacle that they are, continue to be the jewel in the crown of the GAA,” he said.
“Therefore, in the midst of the record-breaking revenues of €73.9 million reported for 2019 (up 16%), which are primarily and overwhelmingly generated off the inter county games, it is disappointing to see that it is the so-called unsustainable costs of those inter-county games commanding such a share of the GAA’s attention.
“Instead we should be celebrating the inter-county games for the success story that they are. The resources our members help generate enable the GAA to be the fantastic community and club-based organisation it is.”
Money has certainly been the main, if not the only, stumbling block between the GAA and GPA of late with the governing body reluctant to loosen the purse strings after being criticised for its financial concessions to the GPA in 2016.
However, Flynn pointed out that “approximately 90% of those revenues are generated through the inter-county game; 49% by gate receipts, 27% by commercial income (sponsorship and media), 14% by distribution from Croke Park”.
He added: “All of these are attributable to the inter county games. This is only the central accounts and does not account for provincial and county board revenue.
“Our inter-county games are the revenue generating machine that allows the GAA to compete with rugby, soccer and other sports for hearts and minds of the Irish public.
“Our inter-county games are the flagship promotional and developmental tool that keeps the GAA in the news and journalists, pundits, administrators, coaches, physios and all the other professionals working within the inter-county games in jobs.
“Our inter-county games allow the GAA to thrive on the field and financially.”
