COMMITTEE Daithi Gallagher
Mike Finnerty
MAYO GAA chiefs and club delegates have all voted to back a proposal to recruit two new full-time staff for the organisation.
The proposal to hire a ‘Financial Director’ and a ‘Business Development Manager’ was put forward by a specially-appointed sub-committee last week and rubberstamped by both the Mayo GAA executive and club representatives at a County Board meeting in Castlebar last Wednesday night.
Mayo GAA had tried on two previous occasions over the last two years to recruit an ‘Operations and Finance Manager’ but both recruitment drives had been unsuccessful.
A sub-committee comprised of Mayo GAA Bord na nOg chairman, Daithi Gallagher, Mayo GAA Treasurer Valerie Murphy, Mayo GAA Assistant Treasurer Michael Diskin, and Cairde Mhaigh Eo chairperson Maria Staunton were appointed last month to revisit the issue.
Their recommendations were put to last week’s meeting and received unanimous backing.
The meeting was told that Mayo GAA hope to get ‘sign off’ from Croke Park’s HR department as soon as possible in order to begin the recruitment process.
The Mayo News understands that the salaries for both new positions will be paid by Mayo GAA and will be dependent on experience.
Last week’s meeting was told that filling the ‘Financial Director’ post will be the first priority for Mayo GAA officials.
“As outlined by the auditors in last year’s financial report, the current financial controls and management of Mayo GAA’s finances are excellent, but the voluntary commitment of Valerie Murphy and Michael Diskin is unsustainable, from a voluntary point of view,” Daithi Gallagher told club delegates.
“I’ve never seen the financial structure and wellbeing of Mayo GAA in a more healthy position, as evidenced by last year’s surplus of €1.1m. But Mayo GAA can’t just sit and hope that people of the calibre of Valerie and Michael just come along every 30 years.
“We’ve seen the benefit of having a very comprehensive financial structure being put in place, and we need to copperfasten that now.”
The contract term for both positions will be five years, with a probation period of 12 months.
The sub-committee recommended that the Business Development Manager will report to the Financial Director who, in turn, will report to the Mayo GAA executive or Coiste Bainistí.
The Business Development Manager role will have sales targets to meet on a quarterly basis and will target new revenue growth areas.
“We will be looking for people to come and work for Mayo GAA who have a passion for Mayo GAA, who will get lots of job satisfaction, and who will be attracted by the conditions of the role and the chance to help Mayo GAA to grow and develop,” added Daithi Gallagher.
It’s understood that an Operational Management role remains on Mayo GAA’s agenda into the future, but filling these full-time positions will be the sole priority for the coming months.
