Jack O’Connor wades in on GAA manager pay debate and questions future of sport if it goes semi-pro

Debate over manager's pay is coming to the fore

The GAA are reportedly discussing a major change to the amateur nature of the sport.

Currently, coaches and players are not paid in the GAA, and are instead volunteers, but the Irish Independent are reporting that paying inter-county GAA managers a salary is now a discussion point.

But speaking to RTE Radio, O’Connor questions whether the GAA could really afford such a drastic change to the nature of the game.

“I can’t see how you can openly pay managers because to start paying managers, you have to pay players, you know? Can the GAA really afford to pay their players, pay managers and pay backroom teams and whatever?

“I don’t think so. It’s still an amateur organisation, remember. We are happy enough down here to do it for whatever mileage or whatever it is. I can’t see how the GAA could sustain a semi-professional game.”

Survey asked participants about manager pay

In a recent survey, which ran on the GAA website in June and July, participants were asked whether they feel inter-county managers should be paid in “a manner consistent with that of an employee of the Association.” 

They were also asked whether backroom staff should be paid for their professional services, allowing participants to choose between options including doctors, physios, selectors, coaches, masseurs, video analysts, data/stats analysts, performance analysts, strength and condition coaches, nutritionists, psychologists, liaison officers, logistics people and kitmen. 

The recommendations from this survey will go before Special Congress.

In December, Jim Gavin poured cold water on the idea, saying: “I’d find it very difficult to stand in front of any team if they weren’t being paid too.”

GAA chairman Jarlath Burns, who launched the survey, recently said: “I know of no one in the GAA who feels that our amateur status is something to be abolished. 

“Yet within that, we have a situation where the preparation of inter-county teams is costing more than €40m [annually] and placing unsustainable burdens on our volunteer-led county boards, and the time demands on players are also at an all-time high.”