GAELIC GAMES: Dublin chairman John Bailey has criticised the "bullying" methods that surround the GAA's Strategic Review Committee (SRC)'s proposal to divide the county for football purposes, writes Ian O'Riordan

Bailey has also called on all counties to mandate their delegates to vote against the SRC document when it comes before tomorrow's Central Council meeting.

In the two weeks since the contentious proposal was put forth by the SRC, the Dublin chairman has seen the question of a split gain universal disapproval in the county.

Yesterday, he heatedly criticised the process by which the SRC proposals are to be considered, and committed himself to defending a united Dublin that has no intention of splitting any time in the near future.

A proposal will be made at tomorrow's Central Council meeting to lodge the SRC document onto the April congress agenda for debate - or at a special congress later in the year.

That, said Bailey, is before any Dublin clubs themselves ever got the chance to debate one of its key elements. "The whole process is undemocratic," he said. "It's dictatorship and it's bullying. We're totally opposed to this proposal and every person I know in the county is up in arms about it.

"I'm calling on all counties to mandate their central council delegates to vote against the SRC's proposals. If they are adopted as principle then it will be without the right consideration, and with no opportunity for counter argument.

"No club in Dublin was even given a copy of this proposal, and it's very much a case of putting the cart before the horse."

The no-surrender attitude, said Bailey, continues to gain momentum: "I'm getting 30 to 40 calls a day from people talking about this issue."

Gerry Brady, Dublin's central council delegate, has already been instructed to oppose the proposal tomorrow after a decision by Dublin's Management Committee last Monday night.

Brady has just returned from the All-Star hurling tour in Argentina, from where GAA president Seán McCague made his latest comments on the issue.

According to McCague, the SRC has found that the promotion of the game in a part of the country with such a sizeable population is not what it ought to be and that has to be addressed.

"Dublin's views on the matter will be taken on board," he said, "but you can't have a situation where one county can veto what it best for the association."

Yet, those comments seemed particularly upsetting to Bailey: "I'd be the first to admit that change is needed but what we need is better finance. And we must start at the bottom, and not at the top. We need to increase the finances and we need to work on the foundations.

"Of course we're not anti-Croke Park and like anyone else Dublin is all for bettering the game. But the message is that we are anti-split, and I'll lead a united Dublin that has no intention of dividing."

Bailey has also criticised the SRC's method of drawing up the document: "The committee got the opportunity before the document was released to meet with the Dublin clubs and they never did.

"Instead, it was given to us two hours before its official launch, and the impression was given that it was welcomed with open arms. That's is definitely not the case."

Clubs also expressed their dissatisfaction at having to buy their own copy of the SRC document through the GAA museum in Croke Park, with one comment suggesting that the museum is where it should stay.

There is also talk of a quiet protest at Sunday's NFL opener against Offaly in Tullamore, although there is no intention of interfering with the game.

Flags carrying the headline "Dublin United" have already been produced.

Tomorrow's Central Council meeting is also to be asked for its support in extending the current football championship format until 2003.

Originally introduced by a special congress in October 2000 for a two-year trial period, the system with its parallel qualifier series for defeated teams proved a great success last summer.