THE challenger for the Antrim county board chairmanship, Jim McLean, says that he is standing because “clubs aren’t happy with the way they were being treated.”
The Dunloy man, who is currently the county’s Ulster Council delegate, will go up against current chairman Collie Donnelly for the position at Monday night’s annual convention, while Aghagallon’s Columb Walsh will also stand against Terry Reilly for vice-chair.
Donnelly and Reilly have been at the head of the county board for two years since coming in at the head of a new wave that was termed ‘Saffron Vision’.
But McLean, who says that he is only standing for the chair and not to be returned as Ulster Council delegate, feels that the emphasis on the clubs has not been strong enough during that time.
“I’m standing on request from a few clubs, they aren’t happy with the way things were going, the way they were being treated.
“I intend to return the focus on fixtures and games to restore faith back into the clubs. They deserve more communication about important issues that are ongoing.
“There were meetings taking place outside Coiste Bainistí to make decisions without consultation with others.
“Volunteer officers weren’t given information and were dictated to what was going to happen. They’re elected to do a job, they should be given the information to do it.
“My focus is the clubs, the clubs, the clubs. The fixtures need sorted.”
In an interview with The Irish News earlier this week, Donnelly said that it would be a “backward step” if the clubs decided not to re-elect them.
McLean, however, insists that a change at the top would be for the good of the clubs in Antrim.
“Monday night is a change for the betterment of Antrim gaels. The club volunteer is the bedrock of the association and can’t be ignored. Antrim is in a better place and will continue to flourish going forward.
“They said it wouldn’t be for the betterment, I’m saying it is. My view, as a Gaelic man, I see where the clubs are at and they’re not in a good place. Referees aren’t in a good place.
“There’s a lot at the sporting end of it that needs to be addressed, and hasn’t been the last two years. The Saffron Vision have acknowledged that they took their eyes off the ball.”
The completion of Dunsilly as a useable training facility and the £115,000 brought in by the successful Saffron Business Forum have been widely regarded as the key successes of the Saffron Vision group.
McLean dismissed any notion that the business forum would cease to be as profitable in the event of a change in the boardroom.
“I have never criticised the Saffron Business Forum. I would openly applaud what they’ve done because it was probably the kick in the arse Antrim needed.
“I would welcome the finance they’ve contributed to date, and long would that continue to flourish and expand. I hope the loyalty continues if there’s a change of leadership.
“I don’t see any reason why it would collapse. I’m not going in with a big stick to change everything - that would be naïve and silly.
“The Saffron Business Forum is an integral part of the finances now. I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t continue with control from Coiste Bainistí.
“The previous county board set it up two years before Saffron Vision made their move, and you’ve seen what’s come out of it.”
