EURO 2008 BID/Croke Park controversy: Ian O'Riordan sounds out the provincial chairmen on the moves to bring soccer to GAA headquarters

A number of reservations and uncertainties appear to remain within the GAA on whether Central Council should be given the power to open Croke Park to other sports. Comments made yesterday by provincial chairmen suggest that the debate at next month's Annual Congress will be far from conclusive.

The GAA has confirmed that a motion in regard to the decision- making process covering the use of Croke Park by other codes is on the agenda for Congress. A repeal of Rule 42 - which has been used to prohibit other sports being played on GAA property - has become central to the success of Ireland's joint bit with Scotland to stage the 2008 European soccer championships

In a statement issued yesterday, the GAA president, Seán McCague, confirmed that a change of rule or policy in regard to the use of Croke Park requires a decision of Congress, and that "his Central Council would only be in a position to consider a request in regard to hosting the European soccer games in 2008 subsequent to such a decision being made by Congress".

The motion to give Central Council the power, in certain circumstances, to allow Croke Park to be used for other sports came from Clare club St Joseph's in Miltown Malbay and was passed at the county convention before Christmas. A similar motion from a Longford club was defeated, while a motion from Roscommon club Kilmore was deferred.

That motion will now take on even greater importance at Congress on the weekend of April 13th.

McCague's statement also emphasised that the GAA's recently-published Strategic Review Report recommended that the association should consider allowing the use of Croke Park by other codes on an occasional basis - but only as soon as the redevelopment of the stadium is completed and the new pitch has been proven capable of accommodating a games programme.

The Croke Park pitch, currently being re-laid, is expected to be ready this June, and the total redevelopment works to the stadium will be completed by next year's Special Olympics, when the stadium will stage the opening and closing ceremonies.

Connacht chairman Padraig Breen yesterday expressed his concern about rushing to a decision to open Croke Park before the new surface is tested.

"I think we can all see that there is a lot of movement now to open Croke Park, and down the line it is likely to happen," he said. "But most people saw the state of the field last year and it was in a diabolical state.

"So at the moment people want to see how the new sod in Croke Park is going to hold up. There are going to be a lot of extra matches played there now, between the football qualifiers and the new hurling qualifiers as well, and that's going to test the new sod to the maximum."

Breen also said that the GAA should be permitted to make up their own mind on the matter.

"It was clear last year that there was a big move to get this opened. And it did come within a whisker of being passed. But I do think there might be some outside pressure there now.

"And I do think it would be unfair to put any pressure on the GAA to change its rules. It's important to remember that soccer are the ones looking to benefit here. Of course it is unfortunate for them that they don't have a stadium of their own, but I certainly wouldn't like to see any pressure being put on the GAA, financial or otherwise, to open Croke Park just to suit an occasion, like. I know it is a big event and important to the country but the GAA owe nobody."

Also important to point out, said Breen, was that if Central Council does get the go-ahead to control the opening of Croke Park, it doesn't mean that Croke Park is going to be opened up straight away.

"But we are talking about a balancing act here. Even if Croke Park is opened up there is the question of how many matches it can take in one year. And there is the residents issue, who already have a problem with the number of games played there."

Leinster chairman Nicky Brennan expressed concern over the potential timing of the European championships.

"From a Leinster point of view we would obviously be extremely interested in what happens, because the proposed timing of the soccer championship runs straight into our championship. As it happens, we would be impacted a lot more than other counties if Croke Park is used for these games. So I expect we will have something to say on the matter in time.

"Other than that I wouldn't be prepared to make any great comment at this stage, except to say that I am happy that the matter is in the capable hands of Seán McCague and Liam Mulvihill."

Ulster chairman John O'Reilly sensed things have changed a little from a year ago. "Personally I don't think the opening of Croke Park will be as easy to sell this year," he said. "That's just from talking to people, but a lot of them do seem to have changed their mind.

"I also thought the issue had actually gone away for the time being, and I certainly wasn't aware of this meeting that took place between the GAA and the Government until I read this morning's newspapers. Of course you never can tell what will happen on the day, but it's up to every county now to make their own minds and when the time comes people will vote as they are mandated."

Munster chairman Christy Cooney did not wish to comment until after this evening's provincial convention, where he intends to raise the matter.