It's been one of the busiest GAA seasons in recent memory, with the FRC's new rules proposals and trials dominating headlines since the inter-county scene came to a close in July.
While the rules proposals might be garnering all the attention, behind the scenes another storm about paying managers has been brewing and another committee appointed to solve it.
When Jarlath Burns called for the issue to be examined several weeks ago, there was little doubt that the association's president was doing it with the best intentions of unearthing the secrets we all know about. However, Pat Gilroy's departure from his Croke Park role over the issue and the association's commitment to amateurism cast the proposals in a different light.
Gilroy a former Dublin manager and coach resigned from his role on the management committee of Croke Park over the association's approach to generating revenue and potentially paying managers, claiming it was at odds with the ethos of community and amateurism.
In the last three or four months, the GAA has been going down a path that I don't think is compatible with what the organisation should be. The things that are concerning me is this talk of paying managers, and the use of Croke Park.
The idea of a blanket payment to managers, the idea of a paid Dublin manager standing in front of players who aren't being paid. I can't get my head around it. I can't be part of the board of Croke Park which, ultimately, will need to make more money to fund this, because we don't have TV rights that will pay for a professional sport.
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Jim Gavin sets out stall on paying inter-county managers
Speaking to Joe Molloy on Indo Sport, Jim Gavin who chaired the rules committee, gave his thoughts on Gilroy's comments and the committee who'll review the amateurism of the sport.
While Gavin didn't mince his words echoing Gilroy's sentiments about professional managers taking charge of amateur players, the 6-time All-Ireland winning manager wasn't going to be drawn on his thoughts about amateurism debate.
I'd find it difficult to stand in front of any team, if they weren't getting paid, how would the manager get paid. I'd find that difficult.
The association's been very clear in its ethos in terms of preserving its amateur status. I've just articulated the vision for the most exciting amateur game in the world, not pro-am or semi-pro, its the amateur game to watch.
Jim Gavin on #GAA managers being paid.
"I'd find it very difficult to stand in front of any team if they weren't being paid too."
The most successful football manager of recent times speaks to Joe Molloy on the Indo Sport podcast. pic.twitter.com/BgLBtqW5Q8— Irish Independent Sport (@IndoSport) December 4, 2024
In fairness to Jim Gavin, he makes it more than clear that the future of amateurism within the sport is an issue for the amateur status committee, but that having professional managers and amateur players isn't the way to go.
While Gavin is the latest high-profile manager to set out his stall on the issue, his comments should come as little surprise considering the approach of Dublin to commercialisation during the county's heyday.
Jim Gavin arrived in a Dublin culture that not only offered 'no pay' to attract managers but where a percentage of any player's commercial earnings went into a fund for the whole squad to take advantage of - something instigated by Gavin's predecessor Pat Gilroy.
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