WEXFORD G.A.A. is no different to other units of the Association when it comes to financial difficulties, and the need to bring in major cuts relating to the preparations of their county teams. Earlier this year County Board officers set a system in place regarding expenditure and budgets for their backroom set-ups with the various county sides, but now they have taken the measures a step further.

Given the amount of expenditure with the preparation of county teams last year, the current budgets have seen drastic cuts right across the board.

And while they border on the drastic, they seem to have met with the approval of the various inter-county squads.

For the Seniors, the G.A.A. Management committee have set aside ¤10,500 per month over seven months for preparation for each of the sides.

With Wexford football by far the biggest spender last year, they will see the figures decreased from in excess of ¤250,000 odd to ¤73,000 odd, a huge cut by any stretch of the imagination. With this including the mileage for each member of the squad, it will be interesting to see if the respective sides can stay within budget over the seven months.

For Wexford football one did not envisage such a drastic cut, while the hurlers will also see their budget fall back some 50% on their 2009 spend.

While there is a need for the G.A.A. in the county to streamline their financial commitments given the precarious time one is now living in, it's still a worrying situation as they try to get the balance right and still not affect their structures in the preparation of sides for league and championship.

However, County Chairman, Ger Doyle, felt there was a need for the G.A.A. to undergo a thorough examination of their finances rather than address it piecemeal.

'At the start of the year we looked at our budgets, and looked at what our expenses were last year. We looked at all our financial outgoings, particularly at our expenses in relation to county teams, all of whom will be treated equally.

'Given the times we are in, we have to be prudent with our money. Everything has to be looked at as we are in a different world right now. We have entered an agreement with the players and management.

'We will now move forward on this and everyone is happy to move on. We have broad agreement with it. There are still a few areas to be dotted and crossed but the players understand our predicament and have moved in behind us.'

Wexford's spend on their Senior sides was in excess of ¤400,000 last year. Should the new budgets be adhered to, the corresponding figure will be less than ¤150,000 on the Senior hurling and football teams.

Meanwhile, Wexford G.A.A. Board have also received planning permission for the state of the art Centre of Excellence in Ferns from the County Council.

This ¤5m project will be of huge benefit to Wexford G.A.A., the camogie board and ladies' football board, while it will also provide a huge boost to the Ferns locality given its attraction.

Wexford G.A.A. have already spent ¤2.5 million on the purchase of the lands, while it will take a similar amount to put in place their reduced Centre of Excellence.

The news has been welcomed by Wexford G.A.A. who now believe they are moving in the right direction in providing top-class facilites for the future of the Association in the county.

- BRENDAN FURLONG