THE Irish Amateur Boxing Association's unique position of running its affairs without a full-time administrator was high-lighted, with disgust, by Ulster council secretary Jim Noonan at Saturday's meeting of the Central Council of the association in Dublin.

"It is a national disgrace that we do not have a full-time administrator in the sport here, a sport that has an established reputation of success at major events around the world," Noonan said.

He claimed that the government did not seem prepared to fund the post.

Instead, he said, the responsibility of running the sport here was left to voluntary workers, part-timers and retired people.

"A fresh marketing strategy is badly needed," he said. "Amateur boxing around the world is moving forward." He named three sports, Gaelic games, martial arts and professional boxing, with which amateur boxing is in competition for interest among the young.

Noonan, originally from Tipperary, said that it was only right for the GAA to command a high degree of interest, "it being our national sport".

He complimented the present IABA executive committee for what he said was the great work they were achieving against obvious odds.