Armagh GAA Sponsor Pulls the Plug & Puts the Boot in

cormac halpin

Armagh have been hit with the news that Morgan Fuels has decided to severe all commercial links with them and has withdrawn from its sponsorship of the Athletic Grounds.

The announcement comes just a week after Armagh announced Rainbow Communications as their new jersey sponsors, replacing Morgan Fuels who has supported the county for the last 15-years.

In 2010 Morgan became naming right sponsors of the redeveloped Athletic Grounds but there has been a breakdown in the relationship between the company and the Orchard County board in recent times, with the company suspending their financial support.

Commenting on the decision to server commercial links with Armagh GAA, Hugh Morgan, Managing Director, Morgan Fuels said: "Since 1995 Morgan Fuels has contributed a very significant sum to the support and development of Armagh Football and Hurling, a sum that is well in excess of seven-figures.

"In very recent times, however, we have witnessed a serious decline in the atmosphere prevailing at County level matches, reflected in poor results and the souring of key relationships. As the principal sponsor of the County teams and of the Athletic Grounds, we have been in a very difficult position. Not only have we increasingly found ourselves at odds with the County Board over their failure to provide the branding and corporate hospitality benefits that were to be provided as part of our sponsorship agreements, but even more importantly, over their failure to take decisive and strategic action to stem the decline of Armagh Football.

"Earlier this year, I reluctantly came to the conclusion that, not only were the County Board complacent about Morgan Fuel's continued financial support, but they were failing to use the money to invest in the development of the teams. I sought to bring pressure on the Board by asking them to bring forward a strategy that would equip Armagh Football to go forward with confidence and to strive for the success they had achieved previously. I made it clear that unless such a strategy was developed, the financial support of Morgan Fuels could not be guaranteed. I am sorry to say that my request was ignored and, consequently, I had no option but to suspend our financial support. This impasse has continued for the last 6 months and led to the complete breakdown of our relationship with the County Board.

"On Sunday 28th October my brother-in-law died suddenly and on that same day I received by email a letter from the Chairman of the County Board making reference to my bereavement but informing me that new team sponsors were to be announced imminently, proposing that we could continue to pay for the naming rights to the Athletic Grounds and requesting a meeting the following evening (Monday). This was obviously impossible in the circumstances and showed no respect for me or my family. On Monday evening the County Secretary also sent me a letter by email regarding the sponsorship, again with no thought for my personal circumstances

"I wish everyone associated with Armagh GAA every success going forward and hope that the new sponsorship agreements bring appropriate benefits to the companies involved and the County. Until very recently, I have always enjoyed my association with Armagh and have been proud to play a small part in the County's development and success over these last 17 years."

wonder88

I think that it is a big mistake for the GAA to go into the area of sponsored naming rights.

keane2097

wonder88 wrote: »

I think that it is a big mistake for the GAA to go into the area of sponsored naming rights.

Why?

wonder88

A few reasons
History or culture of the existing name
Nearly all GAA grounds were built by voluntary effort and community donations often over many years. What right have todays office holder have to change the name of a ground paid for by a previous generation.
GAA still supposed to be (and mostly still is) an amature organisation. While I am realistic enough to know that sponsorship money is always welcome, if everything is for sale it can only further erode the amature ethos in the organisation.

J Cheever Loophole

Official Armagh Statement

Ard Mhacha statement

Coiste Chontae Ard Mhacha are disappointed with Mr. Morgan’s response to our new sponsorship arrangements since at all times we endeavour to conduct our affairs with discretion and integrity. While our partnership with Morgan Fuels has been prosperous and mutually respectful for many years; some complications have arisen recently regarding their contractual relationship with Ard Mhacha. Out of respect to Mr. Morgan and the excellent partnership which we have enjoyed with him, we will not get involved in going into detail on this, but wish him and his company well. We would point out however that we did neither initiate, nor end the stadium involvement with his company and we were given to believe that this was to continue until we discovered early last week that Mr. Morgan had decided to bring it to an end. Finally, while we always welcome advice on how to manage our coaching and games, we will continue to ensure that this part of our operation will at all times be under the strategic control of our county board.

Clareman

Folks,

Can you please include links to your quotes.

Thanks

J Cheever Loophole

Apologies - amended as per request.

cormac halpin

J Cheever Loophole wrote: »

Official Armagh Statement

Disappointing to see Armagh GAA weren't man enough to apologise to the man for their treatment of him and his family during a difficult time.

LeftBlank

I don't see why a sponsor thinks they should have an input into how the county board run the games within the county.

cormac halpin

LeftBlank wrote: »

I don't see why a sponsor thinks they should have an input into how the county board run the games within the county.

Yea, I mean what would a successful businessman know about anything right?

LeftBlank

cormac halpin wrote: »

Yea, I mean what would a successful businessman know about anything right?

Nothing to do with what he knows.

If he thinks he can offer something to the county board, then he should follow the correct protocols and get involved in his local club or apply for a position in the county. Just because his company sponsor the county should not confer on him any rights to have any say in the running of the games.

cormac halpin

LeftBlank wrote: »

Nothing to do with what he knows.

If he thinks he can offer something to the county board, then he should follow the correct protocols and get involved in his local club or apply for a position in the county. Just because his company sponsor the county should not confer on him any rights to have any say in the running of the games.

So no County Board ever takes on opinions from anybody not nominated to a County Board position? That's more than a little naive.

LeftBlank

cormac halpin wrote: »

So no County Board ever takes on opinions from anybody not nominated to a County Board position? That's more than a little naive.

Maybe it is, but my point is that Hugh Morgan seems to think that sponsorship should entitle the sponsor to have a say on how things are run. If the county board decide to take his advice on board, then they are entitled to do that. They are equally entitled to not take it on board, either way that's their prerogative.

padd b1975

Armagh GAA are well rid.

http://www.irishtimes.com

Wed 10 Oct 2011Convicted fuel smuggler runs vast network of filling stations
PROFILE:THE MAN at the centre of the controversy surrounding a cheque for €5,000 allegedly collected by presidential candidate Seán Gallagher on behalf of Fianna Fáil is multimillionaire and businessman Hugh Morgan, of the Morgan Fuels company.

Mr Morgan, who is in his early 50s and has a criminal conviction for fuel smuggling, has business interests throughout the Republic, Northern Ireland, Britain and continental Europe.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

So no County Board ever takes on opinions from anybody not nominated to a County Board position? That's more than a little naive.

What's naive is you reading his post and deciding that he means "exactly this, in 100% of cases, always". As he goes on to mention, it's quite obvious that a county board is as entitled to ignore the advice of a third party as they are to listen to it.

cormac halpin

LeftBlank wrote: »

Maybe it is, but my point is that Hugh Morgan seems to think that sponsorship should entitle the sponsor to have a say on how things are run. If the county board decide to take his advice on board, then they are entitled to do that. They are equally entitled to not take it on board, either way that's their prerogative.

I don't recall reading anywhere that he felt "entitled"? All the man was doing was seeing that his investment was well spent, he's been involved up there quite a long time now and was entitled to question where his generousity was going.

His exact words being

"Earlier this year, I reluctantly came to the conclusion that, not only were the County Board complacent about Morgan Fuel's continued financial support, but they were failing to use the money to invest in the development of the teams. I sought to bring pressure on the Board by asking them to bring forward a strategy that would equip Armagh Football to go forward with confidence and to strive for the success they had achieved previously. I made it clear that unless such a strategy was developed, the financial support of Morgan Fuels could not be guaranteed. I am sorry to say that my request was ignored and, consequently, I had no option but to suspend our financial support. This impasse has continued for the last 6 months and led to the complete breakdown of our relationship with the County Board.

Strikes me as no more than a generous benefactor trying to ensure his submissions were being well heard and spent. Nothing wrong with querying whether a county board has a strategy, any decent business has a model or a plan.

cormac halpin

padd b1975 wrote: »

Armagh GAA are well rid.

http://www.irishtimes.com

They were happy to take his money for long enough and would have still been taking it had he not taken the steps himself.

keane2097 wrote: »

What's naive is you reading his post and deciding that he means "exactly this, in 100% of cases, always". As he goes on to mention, it's quite obvious that a county board is as entitled to ignore the advice of a third party as they are to listen to it.

And the 3rd party is then entitled to remove his funding and explain why he did so.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

They were happy to take his money for long enough and would have still been taking it had he not taken the steps himself.


And the 3rd party is then entitled to remove his funding and explain why he did so.

So what's the problem?

cormac halpin

keane2097 wrote: »

So what's the problem?

I think you'll find I never mentioned a problem, only that their reply neglected to apologise for their behaviour around the time of his sad loss. You were the one who hopped on your high horse.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

I think you'll find I never mentioned a problem, only that their reply neglected to apologise for their behaviour around the time of his sad loss. You were the one who hopped on your high horse.

I would have thought a man with such a sensitivity to a lack of class would have taken issue with Morgan making that element of his private life a news story in the first place.

Commenting on it in a statement relating to sponsorship of the County Grounds would have been an utterly bizarre move by the Armagh County Board.

cormac halpin

keane2097 wrote: »

I would have thought a man with such a sensitivity to a lack of class would have taken issue with Morgan making that element of his private life a news story in the first place.

Commenting on it in a statement relating to sponsorship of the County Grounds would have been an utterly bizarre move by the Armagh County Board.

It would have been the decent thing to do, but given the money has dried up, eaten bread is soon forgotten.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

It would have been the decent thing to do, but given the money has dried up, eaten bread is soon forgotten.

It would have been utterly unprofessional and weird. It was utterly unprofessional and weird of Morgan to talk about it in the first place.

cormac halpin

keane2097 wrote: »

It would have been utterly unprofessional and weird. It was utterly unprofessional and weird of Morgan to talk about it in the first place.

He was explaining his displeasure and ill treatment by the organisation. His treatment left a sour taste which he was justified in referencing. The decent thing would have been to apologise, but much like yourself, some people don't believe in doing the decent thing anymore in this county unfortunately.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

He was explaining his displeasure and ill treatment by the organisation. His treatment left a sour taste which he was justified in referencing. The decent thing would have been to apologise, but much like yourself, some people don't believe in doing the decent thing anymore in this county unfortunately.

You obviously don't understand professionalism very well if you think the death of an individual's sister's husband is an appropriate issue to reference in a statement about the termination of a company's corporate sponsorship of an athletic team.

cormac halpin

keane2097 wrote: »

You obviously don't understand professionalism very well if you think the death of an individual's sister's husband is an appropriate issue to reference in a statement about the termination of a company's corporate sponsorship of an athletic team.

It is when you gatecrash the funeral.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

It is when you gatecrash the funeral.

Was wondering how long it would take for the actual lies to start from the guy with the decency issues.

cormac halpin

And I know a company man when I see one. Each to their own, you have your vaules which you are entitled to

J Cheever Loophole

I have to say Cormac that I find your change of emphasis amusing. Your opening post, which provided Hugh Morgan's statement, contained your phrase that Hugh Morgan had "put the boot in". Then when the Armagh County Board issued what I felt was a commendably restrained response, you take issue with their lack of apology towards the man who "put the boot in".

For the record, as an Armagh supporter I would like to thank Hugh for the tremendous financial support he gave Armagh when we had our greatest ever team. That support was very important to our All Ireland success - a day and experience the like of which I thought I would never see.

Hugh's statement though is essentially the tip of an iceberg that is a wider worsening of relationships within the county, including fall outs between major influential GAA personalities. Like all arguments, there are two sides to the story and both those sides are not being heard in public statements.

From an Armagh point of view it's time to move on and look to the future.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

And I know a company man when I see one. Each to their own, you have your vaules which you are entitled to

lol, good man.

cormac halpin

J Cheever Loophole wrote: »

I have to say Cormac that I find your change of emphasis amusing. Your opening post, which provided Hugh Morgan's statement, contained your phrase that Hugh Morgan had "put the boot in". Then when the Armagh County Board issued what I felt was a commendably restrained response, you take issue with their lack of apology towards the man who "put the boot in".

For the record, as an Armagh supporter I would like to thank Hugh for the tremendous financial support he gave Armagh when we had our greatest ever team. That support was very important to our All Ireland success - a day and experience the like of which I thought I would never see.

Hugh's statement though is essentially the tip of an iceberg that is a wider worsening of relationships within the county, including fall outs between major influential GAA personalities. Like all arguments, there are two sides to the story and both those sides are not being heard in public statements.

From an Armagh point of view it's time to move on and look to the future.

He put the boot in due to the treatment dished out to him and the issues he had with the carryon of the Armagh County Board. The direction changed when the poster queried me. I had issue with their decision not to apologise for their behaviour, perhaps thats just my upbringing, but I would be of the opinion no professional or amateur organisation should or would conduct business in that manner as to not be in a position to wait for a man to bury his dead. Regardless, I seem to be in the minority and so be it.

I am intrigued by your last paragraph, it sounds like Mr Morgan was indeed correct from your reckoning and that there is some serious issues within Armagh GAA.

J Cheever Loophole

Intersting - you're more than happy to accept at face value one version of events in a bitter dispute.

As one poster has said on this thread, "That's more than a little naive".

cormac halpin wrote: »

I am intrigued by your last paragraph, it sounds like Mr Morgan was indeed correct from your reckoning and that there is some serious issues within Armagh GAA.

Issues yes - I wouldn't mind betting that Hugh's version of why there are issues and who is responsible for them would be very different from my own.

cormac halpin

J Cheever Loophole wrote: »

Intersting - you're more than happy to accept at face value one version of events in a bitter dispute.

As one poster has said on this thread, "That's more than a little naive".



Issues yes - I wouldn't mind betting that Hugh's version of why there are issues and who is responsible for them would be very different from my own.

Until the other side comments we only have one side.

J Cheever Loophole

cormac halpin wrote: »

Until the other side comments we only have one side.

Which renders making judgements a pointless exercise!

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

Until the other side comments we only have one side.

Which you're happy to take for the truth in the absence of other versions of events. As mentioned, the height of naivety.

cormac halpin

keane2097 wrote: »

Which you're happy to take for the truth in the absence of other versions of events. As mentioned, the height of naivety.

As I said, until the other side comes out, we can only go with the side we have. I'd be willing to listen to the other side if you have it to post?

Crooked Jack

padd b1975 wrote: »

Armagh GAA are well rid.

http://www.irishtimes.com

You obviously know nothing of the man.
He has been an outstanding supporter of Armagh GAA and an upstanding member of the local community.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

As I said, until the other side comes out, we can only go with the side we have.

No, we can also use what little grey matter we have to figure out that we have only heard a slice of the story, realise that the side we've heard is almost certainly coloured to some degree in favour of that side's viewpoint and avoid drawing blithe conclusions.

This assumes we are neither unintelligent nor naive, and is called discretion.

HTH

cormac halpin

keane2097 wrote: »

No, we can also use what little grey matter we have to figure out that we have only heard a slice of the story, realise that the side we've heard is almost certainly coloured to some degree in favour of that side's viewpoint and avoid drawing blithe conclusions.

This assumes we are neither unintelligent nor naive.

I deal in what people say, you can deal in innuendo and what you make up in your grey matter.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

I deal in what people say, you can deal in innuendo and what you make up in your grey matter.

As I said, you seem extremely naive.

cormac halpin

keane2097 wrote: »

As I said, you seem extremely naive.

If it suits your argument to believe so, then so be it, until you provide further information, it is you that is naive.

keane2097

cormac halpin wrote: »

If it suits your argument to believe so, then so be it, until you provide further information, it is you that is naive.

lol at the "I know you are but what am I" effort.

I'll let you have the last word you so desperately crave...

Crooked Jack

keane2097 wrote: »

lol at the "I know you are but what am I" effort.

I'll let you have the last word you so desperately crave...

but you didnt

ProudDUB

Great. Another potentially interesting thread ruined by petty bickering and squabbling. Well done chaps !