Three to fight it out

MARK GILLICK: Outgoing PRO Mark Gillick is a familiar figure to most Cavan GAA supporters. A member of the county board executive for five busy years, the Cavan Gaels clubman has entered the senior race with a clear, no-frills, six-point manifesto. "There are six key areas which need immediate addressing," Gillick stated this week. "Firstly, we need to review and restructure the current coaching programme that has been rolled out. We need to basically deliver an end product through our coaching and development system, and that product is a county standard footballer. There is a feeling 'on the ground' that the county board has lost some credibility recently, a point with which Gillick agrees, and intends to address as a key issue during his proposed chairmanship. "We need to review and restructure the actual structure of the county board itself," stated Gillick. "We possibly have too many sub-committees and each sub committee needs terms of reference, goals to achieve in a calendar year and their performances need to be monitored. I would envisage that all elected county board officers would be chairs of the sub-committees." A common thread running through Gillick's plans is the need to foster a spirit of inclusion between clubs and the board. A pre-requisite of this, he says, will be the development of a master fixtures plan which caters for the oft-ignored club player. "We need to create a holistic fixtures plan which prioritises the club footballer within the county," he said. "Two fixtures planners are going to be appointed, which will aid that, but the fixtures plan in Cavan in Cavan needs more interaction with schools, underage and clubs. We need to put together a plan which works out that we're not playing football in the middle of December as we are at the minute. "We need a start time and an end time so that where possible the club footballer is prioritised, 99 per cent of footballers in the county are club players, and they have to be looked after." The issue of refereeing also demands special attention, said a straight-talking Gillick. "For years we struggled to get referees, now we have a good panel of referees but we have no assessment or grading of them within the county, and that is something which needs to be addressed. "We train them up, give them a whistle, give them a jersey and send out and there is no further education for them, no assessment to tell them what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong and that needs to be addressed with immediate effect." Stressing the importance of clubs in reviving the fortunes of Cavan football, Gillick spoke of the need to work for and with the clubs at all times, starting with the completion of the facilities at Breffni Park. "The infrastructure work around the stadium needs to be finished immediately, to get the 3G pitch up and running and allow clubs and county teams and development squads to gain access," he said. While football is the count's most popular code, hurling needs a pro-active approach, one that, said Gillick, will grow the game at grassroots level. "We don't have a proper hurling programme within the county. Part of that is to do with manpower, there is a core group of fellas who have to do everything, but we need to put together an underage hurling programme to try to get more clubs interested, playing hurling at underage level. We need to have an underage system similar to the Bord na nOg, but in a hurling capacity," said Gillick. In a dark financial climate, everything must be viewed with the balance sheet in mind. While accepting that spending is essential, Gillick emphasised the importance of spending wisely. "Throwing money at a problem isn't necessarily going to fix it,"he stated. "The biggest expense we have is probably our coaching programme. Money will always have to be spent but it will have to be spent in a proper way that we have a return on our investment, The money that we spend has top produce that end product." Asked what he will bring to the role, an eager Gillick was bullish was about the position, once again outlining the importance of building a proper relationship between clubs and the board. "I think I can bring leadership qualities to the job, I have the drive and determination to do it," he said. "I have been involved in the board for eight years. I see where the problems are within the system, I've been a club administrator and from that end, I understand the requirements from clubs. I have a working knowledge of the day to day running of the board and the strucutres needed. I know those within the clubs and have the talent to contribute." The new chairman has to bring the clubs with him," Gillick concluded. "The 41 clubs and the county board need a closer relationship and there must be genuine respect brought to bear and the faith in and respect for the board has to be regained." PACKIE McKIERNAN: Kildallan's Packie McKiernan is in no doubt as to what he offers as a future chairman of the Cavan county board. Coming from a successful business background, McKiernan stated this week that if he is elected, he will have no qualms about leading what is a now effectively a €1.5m euro medium-sized business "Absolutely",said McKiernan when asked if his business background would be an advantage, "it's my strongest point. I have a vast experience of business for over 30 years, 20 years of which were spent as Operations Director of a subsidiary of a multi-national company. Key responsibilities were the implementation of yearly current and capital budgets as well as devising and implementing the company strategic plans covering two, three and five year periods. "This business and financial background gives me the ability to team build, motivate and lead the various committees and subcommittees in order to achieve set targets and objectives." McKiernan promised to bring about change, repairing "the disconnect, between clubs and county board, starting with the full implementation of the Strategic Plan and all the policies contained within it. A core element of the plan would deal directly with games development and coaching. Improving skill levels and standards of our games must be the main priority over the next four to five years, their is no quick fix, it must be long term. Involving clubs is key to Mc Kiernan's approach, who has extensive experience as secretary and chairman of his home club and as a valued fundraiser for the county board. "I want to bring the clubs back to the heart of the decision making process," he stated. "There is a wealth of experience and good will in the county at club level, we must harness this expertise in formulating plans for restructuring the championship, league and competitions at all levels in the future. " McKiernan stressed the importance of looking towards the bigger picture. "In planning for the future we must be prepared to look beyond parish boundaries and give consideration to forming 'real' divisional or amalgamated teams," he said. "We must be prepared to embrace change and adapt policies which have brought success to other counties. "Giving the clubs an input into formulating policies will allow them to buy into and take ownership of the plan and help with its implementation at grass roots level,'' said McKiernan who describes himself as "a lifelong supporter of Cavan GAA at club and county level". "Sucess for our inter county teams is very important as it raises the profile of our games throughout the province and county, however we must be prepared to take a long term approach in our efforts to achieve sucess on a consistent basis, McKiernan told the Anglo-Celt last week. "Expenditure at board level must be kept under regular review so as to ensure that we get value for money at all times. Generating funding will become more demanding due to the present ecomomic climate and the reduction in disposable income." Pointing out that the Strategic Plan for hurling has been drawn up but has yet to be put in place, McKiernan lists the implementation of the plan a priority, alongside the introduction of a code of conduct for clubs with regard to discipline. "There is growing desire emanating from clubs for a new face, with fresh thinking , along with a more proactive approach to the adaption of a change culture at county board level. "I have the confidence and ability to realise change, and successfully use the resources available within the county to once again take Cavan back centre stage at both provincial and national level. "The election of the successful candidate for the position of Chairman of Cavan County Board should be based on the person's ability to carry out the role, not on service rendered. Therefore I invite the clubs of the county to support me in my campaign to become your Chairman." TOM REILLY: Shannon Gaels clubman Tom Reilly is an engaging interviewee. The 50-year old former county attacker states that this is "his time" to step forward for the chairmanship of the county board, and uses an interesting analogy in explaining some of the problems Cavan football has faced. "If I am chairman, we'll go back and start with the foundations this time and we'll put only put on the roof when the time comes," Reilly told The Anglo-Celt. "We have been changing managers, doing this and that and blaming everyone, but we're not starting in the right places." Reilly feels that he is the most experienced of the three candidates and that this is "his time" to step up as chairman of the county board. "Basically, I'm 50 years of age, I was six or seven years Irish Officer in the county board, was in the Ulster council. I don't think there would have been a contest if Phil didn't step down. But when the vacancy arose, I thought for a while, I looked at my position in life and I said it's now or never. This is my time for chairman if I'm ever going to go for it," Reilly said. "I'm also retired, I do a small bit of farming so I have the time and I have the experience. I'd safely say that the other two candidates would agree with me that I would be more experienced, because I've done it all from club right up. I've had every position in my own club, and that includes lining the pitch and washing the jerseys." Reilly makes no promises of success; rather, he states that within five years, he wants Cavan to be competitive at all levels in Ulster football, focusing firstly on the minor and Under 21 grades. Key to that will be his approach to club football. "We have to look at a championship, especially in senior, that is not a foregone conclusion before you throw in the ball," he said. "When our teams go into Ulster, it's the first real challenge they meet. Take Cavan Gaels for this year. They were winning it handily but when the pressure came on in the second half, they hadn't met anything like that within the county... We don't have a [senior] championship of any substance at all." Reilly is in favour of a senior championship which caters for amalgamations, but which is timed to suit junior and intermediate clubs. "The Kerry model has worked, they have 36 All Ireland, our model is not working for us and no matter what line of business you're in, you look at what's working and what's not working," he stated. "It won't work if we play a senior amalgamation and a junior and intermediate championship all at once - that won't work. We've got to work it out so that the Junior and Intermediate are at least at semi stage before we start the senior. I believe in the cut and thrust of of championship football, you get one shot at it and that's it." In order to achieve success, Reilly feels that co-operation between clubs is vital. "I have talked to every club, they are all saying the same thing. We're not prepared to knuckle down and get on together. To improve Cavan football, we have to do away with parochialism. "We're going to have to say, this is it, we're going to make an effort. And I reckon within five years we'll see change. That's my thinking on it. Reilly is in favour of a similar approach to minor football in the county, stating that he would like to "restructure the league and championships in order develop a separate minor championship for the elite players between 16 and 18 in the county, a 16-team amalgamation without affecting the present structure." Reducing county board expenditure is also high on Reilly's list of priorities. "We can't survive if we keep going the way we are. We're spending money foolishly in all areas and I believe it can be tightened up, right across the board." Coaching is one such area. "[If I am elected] what we have been at since 96 is finished with since Friday 11. We will send our coaches into clubs to show the club coaches how to work. There's no other way, and I won't be accepting any other way. And if I don't get co-operation from them, I'll go back to the clubs and then we'll get co-operation from them. Because we are the employers. There is .5 of a million being used up there on coaching and paid employees and I don't think we are getting value for money. Reilly, who also intends to focus on an improved marketing of the games, also proposes to provide ongoing training and assessment for referees, and taking a root and branch approach to hurling. I think we have to change the structure of the coaching within the county. I am not happy with it. I know we have terms of employment and so on His goal for five years' time is clear: "I want us to be competitive at all levels in Ulster and possibly winning. Realistically, at this moment in time, I believe our best chance is in the Under 21 and minor grades. But five years down the line, we have a shot at repeating 97. Anything other than that is unrealistic and I'm not in that game." •See next week's Anglo-Celt for full convention coverage.