ELEMENTS OF the Wexford G.A.A. Strategic Plan came in for some sharp criticism when launched at the monthly meeting of the County Board in the Ferrycarrig Hotel on Tuesday night of last week.

The 41-page five-year-plan, described as one of the most important documents for the G.A.A. in the county for many years, was given a rather haphazard introduction despite its supposed importance as outlined at meetings over the past six months.

Details of the document were only released to club Secretaries by e-mail last last week, while many delegates attending Tuesday night's meeting had not seen it, yet were requested to vote on its inception to guide the Association in the county over the next five years.

There was no copy of the Strategic Plan available for the press at the meeting. When a Plan was requested, this paper was told it would be emailed to the paper on Wednesday or Thursday, but at the time of going to press on Tuesday it had not arrived.

The meeting had a somewhat bizarre start. Scheduled for 7.30 p.m., the officers decided to hold a Management committee meeting for the same time, with texts being sent out to delegates stating that the County Board meeting had been deferred to 8.30 p.m.

The majority of delegates did not receive the texts, arriving for the scheduled starting time, while the press were also not notified of any time change. So, after much waiting and frustration, the meeting eventually got under way at 9 p.m., some one and a half hours behind schedule, leaving County Chairman, Ger Doyle, to apologise for the delay.

Having dealt with the earlier part of the agenda, it led Clonard delegate Dave Ormonde to suggest that discussion of the Strategic Plan, given its size and importance, be deferred to the next monthly meeting. 'It's 10 p.m. now Chairman, with another matter to be discussed. It's far too late to discuss this Plan.'

However, the Chairman said they would proceed, as the next meeting will be taken up by motions for the AllIreland Congress.

During the course of the discussion on the Strategic Plan, Coiste na nÓg Chairman, Diarmuid Devereux, launched a stinging attack on the top table.

Describing the lack of input from Coiste na nÓg as most disturbing and disappointing, Devereux said 'it's neither strategic nor is it a plan'.

He added that it outlined that this is a five-year plan which would implement a modern financial strategy for the G.A.A. in the county .

'I ask why the modern financial plan could not be implemented by next Friday. Why wait five years> It's far too long with initial plans being outdated by the end of the five-year period.'

The Coiste na nÓg Chairman also lashed out at a section of the report which he claimed was more relevant to the under-age board.

'There is a section in the report dealing with coaching development at under-age which is to be implemented by a committee known as the Coaching and Development committee. This committee only met once in 2009 and has not met in 2010. The democratically elected committee of Coiste na nÓg should be implementing these policies.'

A number of speakers came out in support of Devereux, with County Chairman, Ger Doyle, clearly agitated at the ferocity of the attack.

It was also revealed that the Nickey Rackard League, one of the longestrunning school leagues in the country, was not discussed either in the drawing up of the plan.

Now the plan is to be implemented, but with a clear directive from the floor that it be changed to include Coiste na nÓg.

- BRENDAN FURLONG