FORMER ARMAGH SPONSOR Hugh Morgan has launched a blistering attack on the county board in the Orchard County and has withdrawn his sponsorship for their flagship stadium, the Athletic Grounds.

The venue is to revert to its original name after Morgan Fuels has severed all ties with Armagh GAA.

Armagh announced last week that Rainbow Communications was to become their new jersey sponsors after Morgan Fuels had filled that role for several years.

In a hard-hitting statement Morgan has criticised the the county board ‘over their failure to take decisive and strategic action to stem the decline of Armagh Football’. He also believes they have failed to ‘use the money to invest in the development of the teams’.

Morgan also spoke of the lack of respect shown by the Armagh county board in informing him of the imminent announcement of the new team sponsors on the same weekend that his brother-in-law died suddenly.

The statement reads:

“I have been a passionate Armagh supporter all my life, indeed my friends and family have often commented that orange blood flows through my veins, such has been my commitment, personally and financially, to the County.

“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.  Over the past 17 years we have had the immense privilege of knowing and working with some of the finest players, managers and Board members that any County could wish for.

“We have shared in the pride of seeing the Armagh Seniors win the All-Ireland in 2002, the Armagh Under-21s win the All-Ireland in 2004 and the Armagh Minors win the All-Ireland in 2009, of sponsoring the County during the most successful period in its history.

“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 28^th 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.

“I am very sad that our association has had to end and cannot help but reflect on the way in which my family, my company and myself, have been treated at a very difficult time.  The GAA seeks to promote an ethos of “Give respect, get respect”, I will leave the Armagh County Board to ponder their interpretation of this.”

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