Ian O'Riordan gets the views of three managers, Luke Dempsey, Eamonn Cregan and Pat Holmes, about the issues they would like to see addressed in the GAA's Strategic Review Group report.

Although the exact intentions of the GAA's Strategic Review Group remain secret until this Sunday's official publication it is expected that their report will address a range of issues from the running of the inter-county championships to the association's amateur status.

The review group have spent the last 18 months designing a blueprint for the association's future. Just how far-reaching those recommendations will be remains to be seen but the principal challenges facing the GAA in 2002 are sure to receive close attention.

Already it has been suggested that one proposal could envisage the amalgamation of some weaker counties for the purpose of inter-county senior championships. That, however, is unlikely to get much backing according to Luke Dempsey, manager of the Westmeath football team that not so long ago would have been regarded as a weaker county but are now in contention for the highest honours.

"My honest opinion is that it won't happen," says Dempsey. "As it is there is great pride in every county, and even the so-called weaker counties can have their glory days. I do think the league could be structured better to suit the weaker counties. At the moment there is a two-tier system, with the so-called lower group including counties like Kerry, Meath and Armagh.

"There should be an effort to make the league more important for the weaker counties. If it was structured more like the Premiership soccer then you could have more teams of the same level playing each other. But I can't see amalgamation as a realistic proposal, and as a manager I can say that it won't cut any ice."

Eamonn Cregan, the Limerick hurling manager, says that amalgamation may serve some purpose: "It's probably more relevant for football. Take the example of Leitrim, who have done well in the past with such a small population.

"But to put them in a championship match against Dublin would be a gross inadequacy. There is a huge shift in the population to the east of the country, and that may bring about more and more transfers."

Cregan also hopes that the review group would be thinking about making the game more spectator-friendly. "The spectators are after all the bread and butter of the GAA but I feel they could be a lot better catered for," he says.

"For a start the prices are too high. Most county teams are supported by families, but if they end up going to nine or 10 games every summer with the new system the GAA could lose them simply because of the high cost."

Any administrative proposals seem set to be warmly welcomed. Dempsey believes that too much is being asked of county boards: "There is a situation now where they have increased player mileage and access to gear but they haven't really put a proper system in place. There should be a system where county boards are funded in a more organised way for these expenses, and not have some counties depending on sponsors or supporters clubs or whatever."

Dempsey also believes that the GAA will have to take a close look at where the game is going in regards to professionalism. "Croke Park is now a huge commercial operation and there is definitely something wrong with a system where the players create so much interest, yet their only reward beyond the glory is a holiday abroad or some free gear. And where everyone in Croke Park on All-Ireland day down to the cleaners and security are getting paid and the players aren't."

Mayo football manager Pat Holmes would be more cautious about the possible era of professionalism - not just for players: "There are so many counties starved of success that they may be more inclined to go down the road of paying managers, and that may dictate the matter. Personally I wouldn't like to see it, but there's no doubt that if you start paying managers then the players will have to be paid as well.

"The players' lot has come a long way in the last three or four years, but it did leave a lot to be desired. The GPA and Croke Park's Players' Committee will both take some credit for that. But there is still a long way to go, no doubt about it. It is hard for a lot of county boards to meet the expenses."

Amalgamation is also an issue that Holmes believes may get some consideration: "I think a lot of counties would be afraid to lose their identity in that there is still huge pride in playing in the county jersey. Every year though there are certain counties that go into the championship with very little chance of success, and I suppose their view would have to be considered."

Cregan is clear that the GAA needs to examine their treatment of players: "Without the players the GAA is nothing, and their treatment is a joke compared to the way soccer players are treated. So the GAA will have to open its eyes to the possibility of semi-professionalism."

Cregan feels that the administrative system "creaks" and needs to be more streamlined. Although the running of the hurling championship is going in the right direction he believes it needs to go further: "You still only have 50 per cent of teams getting an extra game and that's not enough. It needs to go further."