Gerry Kelly Interview Part 2 of 2

By Rob Murphy @knockon.ie
September 3 2009

Rob Murphy at Knockon.ie concludes his pre-season interview with Connacht supremo Gerry Kelly...

 

Rob Murphy: Regarding development and the plan for the new stand. From what we reported on knockon referencing the IRFU end of season report where it says "developing the ground seems unlikely as it is adequate to cater for the current average attendance at Connacht games." it seems like those plans have stalled. Is that the case?

Gerry Kelly: Yes, I read that comment, that doesn't take from our ambition to develop our ground. We had to work to get lights installed, we had to work to get the gym so I mean we have our own internal agenda. Obviously we have to work harder. We are very conscious that we have to upgrade facilities for the fans, we are also conscious of the current economic climate which is going to make life more difficult for us but you will have noticed that we have got the planning permission for the project so that has been granted and we are still working towards that goal.

We are entering into a new planned fundraising drive, which we won't be announcing for a while because we have to put the proper planning in but that is where we are going with that it is still very much our intention to develop.

RM: It has popped up in our podcast a bit from our more seasoned fans that the comfort here compared to other grounds is not up to standard and that is what worries them when they are trying to gather in new fans. Do you share that concern?

GK: Obviously, well I think the stand across the way is as good as anywhere but it is very limited in terms of viewing rugby matches and I'm well aware of that. The ground itself is a very open ground. We set out with a target of trying to provide covered accommodation on the clubhouse side of the ground which is probably the most popular side of the ground and that developed into developing a stand basically because the feeling was, if you are going to do it at all, do it right.

As soon as we can get some sort of funding to do that we will do that, we are very conscious of the fans that do support us and the conditions they put up with and everyone is moving forward but we can't stand still either.

RM: On aspect of the IRFU report we highlighted was their mention of the floodlights at the Sportsground, where they said that the floodlights were made fully operational last season allowing Connacht to move their kick off times to evenings. Of course as you, I and all supporters out west know, they have in fact been up and running since the end of the 2005/06 season, That, for me, seems to highlight some serious ambivalence from those who give us €2 million odd each year to run a professional team.

GK: At times you wonder how familiar they are with what is happening on the ground. You have had the success of the building of Thomond Park, the moving into the RDS by Leinster, We are unfortunate if you like that there isn't a ground like that, that we could move into in Galway. The obvious one would be Pearse Stadium but I can't see that happening in the short term anyways but one keeps hoping. The focus is very much on the two big provinces, be that as it may, you have to just work around that and do the best you can't

RM: If they expect us to grow attendances, is it not then a chicken and egg situation in the sense that we need the facilities to attract the new fans.

GK: Well it is, but I'm also conscious of the fact that currently all of their investment is tied up in the Lansdowne Road project and I think that that is a at the moment a cash drain on the union. When that is up and running it will allow the to have another look at the provinces.

RM: Regarding some of the frustrations you and your branch colleagues might have when you are going to Dublin. Do you think they should be communicated more to the fans. For example when the plans for the stand are not being fully backed.

GK: You see, at the end of the day, what the union have done, is, Thomond Park is self financing, They are saying to the provinces that you have to finance any developments yourselves and as long as the IRFU are involved with the Lansdowne Road Project that is the way it is going to be, and that is the challenge to us, you can't always blame big brother, and say that Dublin should do this that and the other for you. I accept what you are saying, it is a catch 22 situation in that you need the facilities to get more fans and all that but I think that until we get a bigger regular fan base, we are not entitled to shout that loud.

RM: If you were to identify the key to building that fan base what would it be?

GK: Winning on the pitch, there is no doubt about it, that is singularly the most important, people like winning teams and you can't change that. I envy some codes were people follow teams through thick and thin, if you look across at English soccer, in any one year only four teams are in the running to win the Premiership but that doesn't stop the Portsmouths of this world having their very strong regular fan base. I mean it's a different world, all you have to do is look at Leinster and see how there fan base has grown, Munster had grown but there fan base grew much earlier.

RM: The A Championship, Connacht are not part of it, are you comfortable with that situation?

GK: I am at the moment, we don't have a big enough squad and we don't have the money to finance it. It will be very interesting to see how it goes, I have mixed feelings on it. I believe that it is necessary for the likes Leinster who have a lot of players to be part of that, we will see how it works. We are conscious that in our situation we are pulling from our four AIL clubs and I think they are struggling enough without that situation so I don't think it would help our club game.

RM: Is that a positive, Some of the supporters of the AIL clubs feel that Connacht not being involved could be a good thing in the sense that it will allow the clubs get an edge and perhaps help at least one of the big two get to Division 1A, maybe even pave the way for Corinthians to push for Division 1B, while players from the other clubs are tied up with A games?

GK: I don't know, it remains to be seen, I mean they are saying it won't take players away from the club game, it inevitably will take some players away. They will be more exposed and there will be more injuries etc. Buccs and ‘Wegians have challenges to get to the top of 1B at the moment and anything that helps will be welcome.

RM: What about new kick off times of 7pm?

GK: We've negotiated that with the greyhound board and that is to be reviewed during the season. We are conscious that we want to make it easier for people outside of Galway to get to the Sportsground and yet we are also aware that some people come straight from work to the Sportsground so we don't want to lose that either. We've tried seven as a compromise. You'll note that the Ulster match is at 8pm.

It will be interesting to see how it goes for that first month. We are trying to see how we can best accommodate fans. You learn as you go, you ask Munster and they feel the best time for games is actually 5:30pm on a Saturday. Your are constantly learning in that respect.

RM: I was going ask you about Saturday or Sunday games, there is a feeling out there that Saturday 6:30pm would work well. Is that something that you have considered and do the AIL clubs play a part in that decision?

GK: Well, It's not that the AIL matches play a part but we our conscious that a lot of our supporters come from the four AIL clubs and if they are playing on a Saturday, If a someone goes to a club match will they come back to the Sportsground as well or we are conscious of the vice versa to that wondering will it take fans away from the club game. We are also conscious of the fact that Saturday is becoming more of a family day. It will be interesting to look and see how the Leinster game after Christmas works on the Saturday. We're not ruling anything in or out.

RM: Sunday did seem to work for the Munster and Leinster games but they were unusual circumstances.

GK: They did work, again 90% of our Junior football is on Sunday's and do we want to interfere with that. Friday night has become the night for professional rugby, there is the feeling that people still have their weekend to themselves when it's on the Friday.

RM: Which brings us to the average attendance which sits just below 2,000. That obviously is something that has to grow.

GK: It has to yes, I mean, my annual appeal is to supporters to come out as often as you can but all the time being conscious that we need to get the results to attract them. What doesn't help, and I know it is the same for every professional team, is the November international and Six Nations break. It disrupts, and people loose the habit of coming but I mean there is no easy solution to that. There will be more games during those periods next year when the Italians come in so it is going to change.

RM: Are you looking forward to the introduction of the Italian regions to the Magners League.

GK: Well, it will add to the league. Increase the number of games, improve the quality of opposition. It will be a challenge because obviously the cost of going to Italy will make the travel cost a bit more expansive. It should improve the league.

RM: Of the first 50 Magners League games, there are 43 live broadcasts and Connacht are part of six of the seven games not live. How do you think that affects us? Is it a major set back?

GK: Funnily enough, for your home games it is probably a positive because it stops the fans who might decide to stay at home and watch. From developing the brand obviously the more exposure you get the better. With our current situation here and one of the reason we will be anxious to develop on this side of the ground is TV companies are not that happy with the track lighting on the clubhouse side which cause a problem for cameras and putting them on the other side is difficult because the platforms have to be built and block part of the stand. So we are working with companies to ensure that we will have a proper TV gantry on this side when the new stand is built.

While a lot of it is down to the Magners League and their negotiations with the TV companies. A lot of the outside broadcast companies are not totally happy with the situation here and obviously the new stand will help.

RM: Last year we talked about a fans forum. Do you think even a small ground of fans meeting you would be a useful exercise.

GK: I have no great problems of meeting fans, how you decide their representative is the challenge there. You know me long enough that I operate an open door policy so I'm not avert to meeting anyone but at the same time you don't want them just to become negative session either.

 

For the conclusion of the interview click HERE