GAELIC GAMES ANNUAL CONVENTION REPORTS:TIPPERARY County Board secretary Tim Floyd has insisted if Croke Park's doors remain open to other codes on a long-term basis, all money generated must go back to GAA clubs and county boards in the form of grant aid.

The Aviva Stadium, or redeveloped Lansdowne Road, will be completed next year but Floyd said in his report to the county’s annual convention, which is to be held on Monday, December 14th, he suspects that Croke Park could remain in use for soccer, but more pertinently rugby, because of its much larger capacity.

GAA headquarters, described by Floyd as “our Golden Goose”, can hold 82,500 spectators while the Aviva Stadium is a 50,000-seater stadium. And the clamour to have Croke Park to remain open is sure to gather momentum as fans scramble for over 30,000 fewer tickets.

Floyd is dismayed by the temporary postponement of Government grants for sports projects, insisting that it will have a major impact on clubs hoping to develop their present facilities.

But he believes that the problem can be alleviated if counties voting on allowing Croke Park to remain open insist that the rent from future rugby and soccer matches returns to GAA clubs and county boards.

Floyd explained: “The temporary postponement of capital grants for sports projects from the Department of Sports and Tourism was accepted without any great fuss from sporting bodies.

“We should have been up in arms with this decision as the National Lottery was originally set up to create funding for sports and cultural projects.”

Floyd added: “So now the GAA must decide if the opening of Croke Park will extend beyond the construction period of Lansdowne Road.

“I believe before this vote is taken, counties must have a clear understanding of where the rent from future rugby and soccer games in Croke Park is going to be invested.

“I will be recommending that this rent of field income be ringfenced for a sports capital investment programme to grant aid GAA clubs and county boards.”