Paul Bellew, chairman of Galway GAA’s hurling board, has said that the county must not “drift and be reactive” if they are to be successful in the immediate and long-term future.
The comments were made in a document prepared by Bellew where he outlines his rationale behind electing him as the new Galway GAA chairperson.
Current chair Pat Kearney will vacate the role in December after five years as chairman and Bellew has looked at five key points that will help Galway hurling moving forward.
He feels that change is needed with a minimum of 25 “committed individuals” required to implement his strategy over the next five years.
Finance, infrastructure, club and schools, strategic planning and communication are the pillars that Bellew has highlighted in his document.
Bellew issued a statement on Tuesday in which he said:
“Galway GAA is at a crossroads. The choices we make in the coming months will define our future on several different fronts.
“It will impact our competitiveness at inter-county level, the vibrancy of our club scene and the general atmosphere in which we conduct our business together.
“We cannot allow ourselves to drift and be reactive. We cannot blame Covid and the past and anything else that poses as a reason for not being proactive.
“Over the coming weeks we will see an increased focus on the chairperson vacancy that will arise in December.
“The chatter and debate this will bring is symptomatic of the issues we face in Galway. The fact is the change required in Galway is beyond any one man or woman in a specific role.”
Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin was surprisingly appointed as Galway’s new manager last month following a prolonged search for Shane O’Neill’s replacement that included discussions with former Clare, Waterford and Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald.
