Amateurism

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/08/25/denis-walsh-gaa-must-take-a-leap-on-paying-managers-and-deal-with-the-consequences/

The certainty this time is that something will be done. A profound change will be made. The crocked status quo won't be waved through, on the nod. Some provision will be made to account for the day-to-day reality of the GAA's relationship with so-called amateurism. It will involve sanctioned payments, and it will alter the landscape for good. Can you think of any other credible outcome?

In recent weeks, the GAA president Jarlath Burns and members of the latest Amateur Status Review committee have met county board officers in a series of gatherings around the country. The purpose of those meetings was not just to explain the committee's thinking but to workshop their ideas. They were happy for the officers to drill holes in them.

[tiempo]

The status quo will remain, un-sanctioned payments too lucrative

[seafoid]

This is coming from the top driven by Jarlath Burns.

[tiempo]

GAA President Peter Quinn set about a review into under the table payments, the review concluded that they couldn't find the table

Jarlath is in role until Feb 2027, Uachtarán-Tofa will be in place by Feb 2026 allowing the new President (post-Jarlath) to transition and for handover

Its not possible to implement sanctioned payments by then, Jarlath will merely pass the baton on

The money is in unsanctioned payments, avoiding tax and scrutiny, I dare say you'd need a Gaelic Managers Association with a desire to make it happen for it to happen

Its a noble thought all the same

[Milltown Row2]

GAA President Peter Quinn set about a review into under the table payments, the review concluded that they couldn't find the table

Jarlath is in role until Feb 2027, Uachtarán-Tofa will be in place by Feb 2026 allowing the new President (post-Jarlath) to transition and for handover

Its not possible to implement sanctioned payments by then, Jarlath will merely pass the baton on

The money is in unsanctioned payments, avoiding tax and scrutiny, I dare say you'd need a Gaelic Managers Association with a desire to make it happen for it to happen

Its a noble thought all the same

Avoiding tax is down to the person not necessarily the county I'd assume?

Scrutiny?

[Rossfan]

Would the manager be an Employee or contractor?

This might come into play...

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41693621.html

[twohands!!!]

Would the manager be an Employee or contractor?

This might come into play...

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41693621.html

I'd say the possibility of the Revenue accepting intercounty managers as contractors is fairly remote.

From that article, it really looks like Revenue is going to be keeping a much stricter eye on county boards and their potential tax liabilities going forward. That's a potential minefield in relation to all and any payments to managers.

The fact that the article mentions each county board's self-assessment was "quality checked" by central GAA authorities prior to submission to the Revenue is notable - if I had to guess I would say that the central authorities agreed to turn a blind eye in terms of payments made to managers and others during the period in question so that the information going to Revenue was accurate, especially given the ongoing issue of the relationship between Revenue and the GAA. The GAA powers-that-be would have wanted the various county boards to be 100% honest with their submissions as any county trying to be sneaky would risk Revenue coming down like a hammer on the GAA. However I'd be fairly certain county treasurers were warned that things were going to change in terms of payments to management teams going forward.

Burns knows if the Revenue start investigating the tax affairs of the GAA at anything more than surface level they are going to find an absolute laundry list of tax evasion and other laws around financial affairs being broken. That would be an absolute PR nightmare.

The bit in the article about the six counties being advised to undertake self reviews as well is another notable element. Long-term I really don't think the powers-that-be are going to stand for different levels of regulations in place because of the border.

It looks like the taxman isn't willing to look the other way any longer in terms of GAA payments to managers which I'd imagine will change things significantly on the amateurism front.

[Rossfan]

Heard the Committee are going to propose a fixed €20,000 payment to managers.
They wouldn't get out of bed for that😄

[twohands!!!]

Heard the Committee are going to propose a fixed €20,000 payment to managers.
They wouldn't get out of bed for that😄

Some of them will and some of them won't. Some will pack it in but I can see a lot a lot saying €20k a year is better than nothing.

If you're managing a hurling county down the tiers getting €20k a year would probably be an increase huge.

The other thing is that Croke Park are looking down the road and planning for the fact that camogie and ladies football managers will be looking for the same payment too.

A knock-on affect is that the powers that be will have to go after payments by clubs otherwise there will be a mass exodus of names to club management.

[tiempo]

Heard the Committee are going to propose a fixed €20,000 payment to managers.
They wouldn't get out of bed for that😄

Some of them will and some of them won't. Some will pack it in but I can see a lot a lot saying €20k a year is better than nothing.

If you're managing a hurling county down the tiers getting €20k a year would probably be an increase huge.

The other thing is that Croke Park are looking down the road and planning for the fact that camogie and ladies football managers will be looking for the same payment too.

A knock-on affect is that the powers that be will have to go after payments by clubs otherwise there will be a mass exodus of names to club management.

Croke Park needs to hold firm on amateur status. If county boards or clubs are slipping managers money under the table, that's a matter strictly between payer and recipient, not an issue for Croke Park. The real danger lies in trying to create a framework that would legitimise these payments. That would only open the door to more problems than it solves.

As things stand, the only rule being broken is the GAA's own amateur principle, and beyond that, it veers into a question of tax compliance, not a matter for the GAA itself. It's no more the GAA's business than the private life of Rory Gallagher was

[Milltown Row2]

Heard the Committee are going to propose a fixed €20,000 payment to managers.
They wouldn't get out of bed for that😄

Some of them will and some of them won't. Some will pack it in but I can see a lot a lot saying €20k a year is better than nothing.

If you're managing a hurling county down the tiers getting €20k a year would probably be an increase huge.

The other thing is that Croke Park are looking down the road and planning for the fact that camogie and ladies football managers will be looking for the same payment too.

A knock-on affect is that the powers that be will have to go after payments by clubs otherwise there will be a mass exodus of names to club management.

Croke Park needs to hold firm on amateur status. If county boards or clubs are slipping managers money under the table, that's a matter strictly between payer and recipient, not an issue for Croke Park. The real danger lies in trying to create a framework that would legitimise these payments. That would only open the door to more problems than it solves.

As things stand, the only rule being broken is the GAA's own amateur principle, and beyond that, it veers into a question of tax compliance, not a matter for the GAA itself. It's no more the GAA's business than the private life of Rory Gallagher was

The manager is 'self employed' and whatever under or over the table payments he should be declaring that. That is the easiest solution and stops having the county board worrying about the tax owned/not paid problems

It will, if it ever happens, bring in more local based managers rather than ones travelling 100's of miles.

Be interesting to see how it unfolds

[Pub Bore]

Is an "under the counter" payment not hidden by both parties?

[armaghniac]

Croke Park needs to hold firm on amateur status. If county boards or clubs are slipping managers money under the table, that's a matter strictly between payer and recipient, not an issue for Croke Park. The real danger lies in trying to create a framework that would legitimise these payments. That would only open the door to more problems than it solves.

No, I think that GAA central has to require units of the association, whether clubs, counties or provinces, to have proper accounts.

[Wildweasel74]

Is there a senior county team in div 1  under 80-100k for a management team. I doubt it!

[marty34]

Is there a senior county team in div 1  under 80-100k for a management team. I doubt it!

I'd say not. But there's just 32 counties in Ireland.

The club situation is a lot messier.

But in a club situation, is it not usually a business man or a couple of them who chip in to give 'expenses' to the management?

How do you regulate that?