A LONG-serving Antrim county board official has resigned from his position amid a row over the venue for Sunday’s Senior Football Championship final.
Assistant treasurer Tyrone Eastwood told clubs that the decision to hold the process by which Corrigan Park was chosen as the venue left him “with no alternative” but to step down with immediate effect.
In an email sent to the clubs on Tuesday afternoon, Eastwood claimed that an agreement had been made by a four-man sub-committee set up to look at the venues for the semi-finals and final, that this year’s decider would be hosted by Glenavy.
Eastwood, who is a member of St Joseph’s, Glenavy, claims that he received an email from county chairman Collie Donnelly last week stating that the county final would be held at Corrigan Park.
Corrigan Park is the home of St John’s, where Donnelly is a club member, though Eastwood insists that how the decision was made is the issue, and not the venue itself or St John’s.
Eastwood claims that he then met with county secretary Frankie Quinn “and asked him his recollection of the meeting, he said that he had found his notes of the meeting which he showed me and indeed the final was to be in Glenavy.
“To my amazement on Thursday, October 6, I received a text message from the county secretary stating that as the vote for county final was split 2-to-2, the county chairman was using his casting vote and that the final was going to be played in Corrigan Park.”
Eastwood, who has served in the past as county treasurer and did two stints as assistant treasurer across a 25-year association with the county board, said his decision came down to the “decision of the county chairman and county secretary to change their minds without any discussion”.
“Firstly let me state here that the decision had already been taken at our first meeting and, secondly, no discussion ever took place on the merits of both venues after the chairman and secretary changed their minds, never mind a vote.
“I have no issue with Corrigan Park or the St John’s club as they have hosted several big matches this year and done so very well.
“I know some people will think that I am acting this way because my own club Glenavy is involved but as I have stated the decision taken was a unanimous one in favour of Glenavy, noted by the county secretary and the CCC Chairman.
“I have worked for the county for 25 years and have always tried to do what is right for county Antrim. I have always held the position of the county officers in the highest regard.
“Unfortunately the decision of the county chairman and county secretary to change their minds without any discussion has left me with no alternative but to resign from my position as assistant treasurer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those clubs and individuals who have helped me over the years, especially those who facilitated myself and the county gatemen in the collection of gates,” said Eastwood in his resignation email.
Neither Collie Donnelly nor Frankie Quinn were able to be contacted yesterday for comment.
