HOCKEY:It seems churlish to spoil a good party following the recent news that Ireland have appointed two respected coaches for the men's and women's national sides to kick start a serious three-and-a-half-year plan to get a team to the Olympics in 2016.
But the circumstances surrounding the recent Irish Hockey Association’s executive decision to withdraw the Irish men’s national squad from the Champions Challenge 1 competition, and the manner of its implementation is a matter that needs to be teased out.
While the team has travelled to Argentina and plays this weekend, there are a number of issues that need to be clarified so the misinformation does not recur.
That’s why the December 2nd special general meeting at the Stillorgan Park Hotel in Dublin could be fiery.
There are a number of specific questions that have been submitted which must be answered clearly.
Remember, the clubs and the people in hockey came up with €60,000 to make the trip to Argentina possible, not the association.
Top of that list must be why the association initially misled its members by stating that attendance at this tournament was being withdrawn due to coaching issues, when the announcement on October 5th implied that funding was the main issue.
Other issues are pertinent too.
Why did the association wait to initially cancel the trip, thus incurring a large fine, when an earlier decision could have avoided such a penalty?
How had the association planned to fund London 2012 if the Irish teams had qualified for the Olympics?
Are provisions being made to fund other tournaments, including Rio 2016?
Can the board give a breakdown of the operating costs of the association, including salaries?
Can the board provide details of job specs and responsibilities for its employees?
Have any pay rises been sanctioned within the association this year despite the lack of funds available for its senior teams?
Interesting times indeed.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday – Leinster Senior League, Division One: Pembroke Wanderers v Railway Union, Serpentine Avenue, 2.0; YMCA v Corinthians, Alexandra College, 4.30; Avoca v Fingal, Newpark, 12.30; Monkstown v Three Rock Rovers, Rathdown, 1.30.
