Ernie Pollock last night stepped down from the executive committee of the Ulster FA at a low-key AGM in the Mount Errigal Hotel.
The Lagan Harps clubman had been Chairman of the Ulster FA until last season when he filled the role of secretary.
Having planned to step down at last year’s AGM, Pollock was persuaded to do a u-turn but last night he vacated his seat on the provincial body.
“I just can’t give the time or commitment to the role, so I will be stepping down,” he said.
There are some changes to the top table. Donal Coyle, the Chairman of Bonagee United and the Treasurer of the Ulster Senior League, takes the role of Vice Chairman of the Ulster FA.
Coyle beat the incumbent Vice Chairman, Ben Wynne, 26-16 in a vote, to get elected to the Ulster FA for the first time.
And Letterkenny Rovers Chairman Dessie Kelly returns to the role of Ulster FA Secretary having been elected unopposed.
Chairman John McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary Terry Leyden and Treasurer Herbie Barr were all re-elected to their posts again while Wynne takes up the role as Appeals Board Secretary.
Leading Referee Aidan Redican – as he had done at last month’s Donegal League AGM – warned about a looming crisis in terms of referee numbers in the county.
At present, there are 58 registered referees in Donegal, the average age of whom is 48, who are allocated between nine Leagues.
“We have to get new blood,” he said.
“There isn’t a crisis yet, but we are heading that way. 58 is as low as our numbers have been in a few years now.
“A lot of new referees only want to referee at schoolboys level, but we need referees to do junior football. It simply isn’t enough to do schoolboys football.”
A total of 46 clubs in the Ulster FA were not represented on the night.
12 clubs from Inishowen were not represented and Provincial Administrator Herbie Barr said he was ‘very annoyed and disappointed’ that an FAI workshop was being conducted in the Inishowen League area at the same time as the meeting.
Meanwhile, FAI Senior Council representative Jim McConnell – who is a member of the FAI’s ten-man Board of Control – said that the FAI was continuing to support Finn Harps’ stadium development.
ULSTER FA, EXECUITVE 2017/18
Chairman – John McLaughlin
Vice Chairman – Donal Coyle
Secretary – Dessie Kelly
Assistant Secretary – Terry Leyden
Treasurer – Herbie Barr
Appeals Board Secretary – Ben Wynne
