THE publication earlier this week of Croke Park’s independent review of Donegal GAA’s practices suggests ways they can see the dawn at the end of a dark period for the county.
It was a fairly damning report, but a measured one too in terms of its language and the care it took not to identify individuals involved or go overboard in its criticism.
Between the lines, the report from a six-person team headed by Ulster GAA president Ciaran McLaughlin is very clear in determining that fairly rapid and widespread change is needed in Donegal.
The circumstances surrounding Karl Lacey’s resignation as head of the Academy in January brought waves crashing at the doors of Convoy, forcing them open and leading to a wider review.
He had spent 18 months cultivating an Academy. Disadvantaged at key ages by their schools’ lack of competitiveness compared to neighbours Derry and Tyrone in particular, it was intended to help Donegal compete.
A county that has only ever appeared in one All-Ireland minor football final and won just seven Ulster titles at the grade was felt badly in need of what had been developed under Lacey’ watch.
The report noted that on his watch the Academy had “represented a very good structure, was well-organised, had a sound player focused philosophy with good planning principles in place.”
When Lacey resigned, all 30-plus coaches that were also there left with him.
None of them have gone back.
Donegal’s U15 and U16 development squads are being run in the meantime by the county’s paid games development coaches, whose basic remit is to work in schools. The number of coaches is significantly smaller.
There is no U14 team.
Lacey resigned following a number of issues with members of the executive, one of which was coming into conflict over the change in the way the Academy was managed.
The former Allstar had been informed of a “360 review” of the Academy and its structures that would be conducted by the county’s coaching officer, Michael McGeehin.
Croke Park’s report recommends a completely different structure for Donegal’s Academy, headed by the interim Head of Operations, an interim implementation team and the county board executive.
An interim sub-committee to lead the Academy and an interim governance and finance group would also be set up. The structure appears to reduce the role of the coaching officer.
When coaches met with Jack Cooney (National Player Development Lead), Seamus Kenny (National Participation and Programmes Manager) and Roger Keenan (Ulster GAA Coaching Development Manager), they were asked if they would be willing to return swiftly under an interim Academy head and concentrate on a potential return for Lacey in 2024, but it was widely rejected.
“Six months, 18 months, four years, whatever length of time it takes, we’re prepared to wait,” said one coach.
It is partly loyalty to Lacey but it’s as much loyalty to what he had built too.
The coaches – none of whom were paid – enjoyed being part of a good Academy system and don’t want to see it diminished.
Among the coaching fraternity, the feeling remains optimistic that Lacey would return under the right conditions.
It is complicated slightly by his involvement with Kilcoo, where he’s now coaching for the remainder of this season at least.
But the bigger obstacle is the one that the report hints at but steers away from dealing with.
It’s widely felt that Lacey would only go back in the event that a number of the executive officers were no longer in position.
Clubs were set to call for votes of no confidence in a number of officers when they were told of Croke Park’s intervention and asked to put a stay on any such votes until the review was complete.
It’s unclear at this stage whether clubs will be satisfied with its outcome or if they intend to push ahead with votes at the next county committee meeting in the first week of July.
Irrespective of what else the review brings about, without changes in the executive it seems certain there will be no return from Lacey or the other coaches.
The Academy was the issue that brought the report about, but it has highlighted wider concerns.
It highlighted 24 risks in total, nine of them in relation to Donegal GAA’s financial operations, while making clear there is no allegation of impropriety on the part of anyone involved.
However, practices such as single authorisation payments on online banking and credit cards, a lack (and in some cases absence) of supporting documents for payments, receipts not being retained on file were red flags for the auditors, who also highlighted the need for a functioning finance committee.
Among its recommendations is the appointment of a full-time Head of Operations, with Ulster GAA or Croke Park to provide an interim person to the role in the near future.
The report by Croke Park also references the setting up in June last year of a bank account under the name of ‘Friends of Donegal Youth Academy’.
“There were no transactions in the bank account. However, approval had been sought from members of the county management committee in July 2022 for a GoFundMe page,” the report states.
“It has been confirmed a cheque was made out to a member of the Academy setup for €250 for a night out for the Academy personnel. There has been speculation that other funding has been gathered but these claims have not been substantiated by supporting evidence,” it continued.
That evidence corresponds with details uncovered during an Irish News investigation in March.
Again, there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of anyone involved.
The report was also critical of Donegal’s appointment of a senior football manager, which could become pertinent if Aidan O’Rourke decides that one tumultuous year is enough.
The Croke Park committee was exhaustive in its work and it’s felt that they’ve produced a document that, if followed, has the potential to put the county back on the right track.
Promises of additional funding have been noted and there’s reassurance in the likelihood that, as in other counties, the GAA’s Head of Internal Audit Michelle McAleer will be on hand to steer the ship until the GAA are confident enough to hand control back to Donegal.
It has lit the path for Donegal.
But the report itself changes nothing materially about the direction the Academy is heading.
Karl Lacey might still return - but change will have be more than just a promise for that to happen.
