Prenty: Covid made counties cut their cloth

CONNACHT Council CEO John Prenty wants inter-county training sessions capped at three per week – and just two in the week of a game – as the GAA absorbs the new financial realities brought about by Covid-19.

Prenty suggests that, as an unlikely benefit of the pandemic, the GAA may have “stumbled upon a formula” to slow down the “runaway train” of the inter-county game’s spiralling costs.

But he also warned that 2021 is likely to be even more challenging than last year, with “little or no prospect of attendances at our championship games”.

Writing in his annual secretary’s report ahead of Thursday’s Connacht Council convention, Prenty stated: “The plans and expectations we had at last year’s convention were quickly thrown into disarray with the arrival of the pandemic. Suddenly we had no games, no attendances, lockdowns and very little financial opportunities.

“For a number of years I have decried the excessive costs of the inter-county game.

“The previous demands of intercounty team managers and players to train more, have more professional staff involved and consequently spend more, could not be accommodated as 2020 had to be different. We managed to have a very exciting, high-quality inter-county championship with county team costs at a fraction of the year before,” he continued.

“Maybe we have stumbled onto a formula: split season; match-day panels of 26; senior team panel expenses for 32 (all counties should be confined to 32); team expenses paid centrally with additional costs confirmed by auditor.

“Teams allowed to train on a maximum of three times per week. Two sessions plus a game. Official offseason enshrined in fixtures calendar.

“Backroom size confined to 12. Counties carrying huge backroom teams has shown to be unnecessary.

“Hopefully the runaway train of previous years can be slowed down to keep within the speed limits.”