THE CHAIRMAN OF the Irish Sports Council, Kieran Mulvey, says the organisation may review their funding to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association following the controversy over the departure of acclaimed coach Billy Walsh.
Talking to RTÉ’s Prime Time programme, Mulvey said an agreement his organisation arranged with the IABA prior to Walsh’s departure was never instigated and has demanded that they reconsider their approach to the issue.
“My view now is that deal should be offered to Billy even at this late date and give up the nonsense that’s going on now in the IABA about this.
“I’m effectively saying when the new funding round for 2016 comes up, we will have to review our relationship with the IABA.
“What was so unacceptable about the agreement of 22 August was that it was never put to the board and never put to Billy Walsh even though it was agreed by him — what’s the problem? I don’t know what the problem is.
“I want a rethink within the next 24 hours by the IABA of their total approach to this and their acceptance of the agreement we put to them on 22 August.”
Mulvey denied that Walsh sought complete control over selection of boxing teams, but added that the coach should “be allowed the freedom and opportunity to continue to do a job,” describing the issues that led to his resignation as “petty indignities”.
