Jim McGuinness has claimed that he and six other members of the 2014 Donegal football set-up are still owed holiday vouchers by the county board.
In his Irish Times column today the former manager explains how several members of the panel that reached last year’s All-Ireland final were unable to travel to Dubai in February for a variety of reasons.
A sports psychologist with Celtic, McGuinness could not go to Dubai because the Scottish champions had a league match against St Johnstone and a Europa League clash with Inter Milan.
He was of the understanding that those unable to travel were entitled to a holiday voucher to the value of the trip, but seven months on and McGuinness and the others who missed out have received nothing.
“The official word from the Donegal county board was that if people couldn’t travel on the team holiday, then that was it. But the information I obtained from Croke Park is that if you couldn’t attend a team holiday, then you are entitled to a voucher for whatever the holiday was worth,” wrote McGuinness.
“The county board suggested that there was an implication with Revenue; that would be true if you got the benefit-in-kind but if you received an actual holiday voucher, then it is just that – an opportunity for people to take the holiday they were entitled to.”
SportsJOE understands the issue was raised at a county board meeting prior to the holiday, by former county treasurer Grace Boyle. Boyle, who works for the Revenue, said she was not aware any tax issues arising from issuing vouchers. However county treasurer Cieran Kelly told the meeting that he had been advised by Croke Park that there could be repercussions.
Donegal County Board released a statement later today defending themselves against McGuinness’s claims, which the 2012 All-Ireland winning manager delayed bringing to light until the Championship season was over.
“CLG Dhún na nGall correctly followed all guidelines as issued by Croke Park to Donegal County Committee regarding holidays and are satisfied that the holiday was organised fully in accordance with those guidelines as has been confirmed by Croke Park,” read the statement.
The only player to miss out on the week-long trip to the Emirates was corner-back Paddy McGrath, with team doctor Charlie McManus and selectors Damien Diver and John Duffy among the backroom staff not to travel.
Duffy spoke to the Donegal Democrat about the voucher issue back in February, but McGuinness’s column is sure to mean the issue is once more a hot topic in the county.
Funded by a €80,000 Croke Park grant and the county’s own €110,000 team holiday kitty, the Donegal panel delayed their trip until February, in the run up to to the Allianz League, as a December holiday would have clashed with All-Star goalkeeper Paul Durcan’s wedding.
There has been no response from Croke Park as yet this morning to McGuinness’s claim that the former manager and the Donegal County Board are being told different things by the Association.
“There is this old thing about Donegal washing dirty linen in public. I am doing that now because there is no other option. We have been months trying to sort this out and have established that those who run our games are in favour of the boys receiving a holiday voucher but it still hasn’t been sorted out some 10 months later,” wrote McGuinness.
“It isn’t about the holiday as much as respect. This is such a small thing but it shouldn’t be an issue. People should be tripping over themselves to make sure the boys get some little bit of thanks for all of the untold hours they put in.”
It’s rarely dull in Donegal.
