What the Laois lad (spit
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
) says makes a lot of sense, and from reading the posts I think nigh on everybody accepts that things are not good enough. The obvious question now is what can we do about it? Are we just a bunch of internet geeks spouting and mouthing about things, or can we do something about it. I'm living away from Offaly at the moment, although I think I'm a paid up member of Ferbane. Are others here more involved at home? Can we get anything submitted to CB level? Or can we start with individual clubs? The Club AGMs are probably next christmas, so we have 9 months, and probably a couple of sickening performances in the summer to organise, lobby support and formulate ideas, if we want to. Do we want to?
By the way, I am totally in agreement with the 'mean' county board, but that's not started today or yesterday. Back when I was labouring away futiley, we never got so much as a polo shirt, togs or socks. I remember going to Keenan Sports in Athlone to buy Offaly socks before a game against Kildare or someone. Ridiculous. It's not going to turn you into a player, but you should be proud to play for your county, and getting free gear, free boots etc is part of that. Of course it shouldn't be the reason you are proud, but you should be made to feel as if you have achieved something, and that the county is behind you.
With regard to the mean county board in terms of paying managers etc, I'm a little conflicted here. I am totally against players getting paid for playing our games, by us. The grants scheme is still, for the moment, government money, so I have no major problem with it, apart from a few 'precedent' concerns which are for another day. However, it is very hypocritical in my opinion to be against players getting paid, yet be willing to call on the county board to pay big bucks for county managers. I can't reconcile those two things in my mind, so I'm not going to support any motion that calls for managers to be given big salaries on the approval of the county board. Even if the figures being bandied around for the current incumbents are correct, I'm not happy with it.
So..... I would pump money into places where it is morally right and just to do so. Employ full time coaches. No ethical dilemmas. That's their job. Let them go around coaching youngsters the skills of the game, and organising camps and programmes. 1 coordinator and up to 4 or 5 coaches at maybe 50k and 30k p.a. That's doable I think, and would be a serious step forward.
Then, when it comes to the inter county managers, I would only appoint someone who will claim expenses, accounted for and accountable. I realise this will rule us out of a big name manager, but maybe up and coming young coaches from nighbouring counties, or our own county, would take it, even as a stepping stone to 'bigger' pay days somewhere else.
It may be naive of me, but I just can't support the alternative.
Anyway, back to my first point. What do we do now?
Shane Gavin. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.