THE PRESIDENT OF THE GAA has urged clubs to exercise financial restraint with the country’s economic situation impacting on clubs as well as county boards in Ireland.

The comments come as evidence emerges across the country of clubs being in financial difficulties with Dublin’s Thomas Davis and Laois’ Portlaoise being two that are named in today’s Irish Examiner as being hit by the downturn.

Christy Cooney, who was last month urged to use his presidency to get spending under control, has said that the GAA will continue to provide support where possible to clubs around the country, telling the Examiner:

We will financially advise and support in any way we can to help clubs get out of their problems. Provincial councils and county boards will support that as well.

We will also talk to financial institutions to see how we can reschedule their loan situations. We’ve been talking to people continuously over the last year and a half.

Cooney admitted that there had been situations where clubs had over-extended themselves in better economic times and said that any plans for development should be reigned in if the money isn’t there.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the Leinster Council will have similar words of warning to GAA clubs in the province when he delivers his annual report this weekend.

Michael Delaney says that a number of clubs are in financial trouble and some county boards may also be heading that way in the Leinster area, reports the Irish Independent.

Whilst not explicitly calling for a bailout of those in trouble he said the council cannot “stand on the sidelines” when it comes to those in financial difficulties.