UPDATE: Billy Walsh Statement on IABA Comments

Following a number of interviews conducted by IABA representatives and a statement they released yesterday, Billy Walsh has been moved to release another statement on the matter.

Statement on behalf of Billy Walsh

I have no intention of dragging this issue on any further and I do not intend to issue any further statements after this. However, I feel compelled to issue this statement due to the misinformation that has been peddled in the last couple of days and to clarify my position and to explain in more detail what actually happened in the negotiations. Everyone needs to move on from this situation but I cannot have what I know to be inaccuracies and an unfair portrayal of what has happened in the last eight months to not be corrected.

The IABA has clearly implied that I have left because of money and that a contract was agreed on September 14^th. This is simply incorrect. For ultimate clarity, I want it on the record that I did not resign from the IABA because of money.  Of course I wanted better financial terms. However, it was the non-financial and practical working terms that were the deciding factor in my decision to resign.

For ultimate clarity again, what happened on September 14^th was a meeting in the IMI where a framework of an agreement was discussed and agreed in principle. It was agreed I would resign my permanent position and take up a new role on a fixed term contract. The IABA, as the employer, was due to send me the documentation which reflected our agreement.

The proposed new IABA fixed term contract arrived three days after the IMI meeting. What I received was a severance agreement for stepping down as a permanent employee and a fixed term contract from the IABA. These terms arrived via the IABA solicitor and were clearly termed contract denied subject to contract, which seemed highly unusual to me and my advisors. 

I was shocked at the tone and content of the new fixed term contract in that it consistently undermined my role and my authority at every turn.

The new fixed term contract gave me very few legal protections and prevented me from having any contact with the Irish Sport Council (ISC) or the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) for example. These are key stakeholders that I need to deal with on a regular basis due to the nature of my role and the work of the programme. I was prevented from having contact with the ISC or OCI without prior written permission of the CEO. This stipulation also included any contact with the media.

I was given absolutely no autonomy in the new contract and this was clearly aimed to undermine my position and would have made my job extremely difficult to do if not impossible to do.

At this juncture, I was also under significant time pressure to sign or not sign a contract offer with USA Boxing, who had been waiting for months, which I made the IABA aware of.

Instead of rejecting the contract outright and walking away, I went through the proposed fixed term contract with my solicitor (an eminent employment law professional) and a HR professional and identified up to 60 changes that were required to make this a fair and acceptable contract document for me. We submitted these changes through my solicitor to the IABA solicitor on the 21^st of September. We clearly outlined our required changes and despite the IABA knowing the immense time pressures I was under and despite two reminders from my solicitor to the IABA solicitor that we were looking for a swift response, no response came from the IABA until October 8^th. It seemed they were deliberately dragging this out.

The response that came from the IABA on October 8^th through their solicitor was reviewed by my solicitor and HR advisor. They advised me that what they received from the IABA, signalled a clear intention by the IABA to reject all the proposed amendments which I had outlined that I felt were needed for me to do my job to the best of my ability. The IABA had merely agreed to a few stylistic changes and one or two elements of limited substance.

I was further advised that the IABA appeared to be resistant to any change to the contract save that in relation to remuneration and even at that, they appeared to be reneging on what I understood to be the minimum bonus.

The IABA could not have been shocked or surprised that I resigned given their disrespectful response and blatant disregard for my required changes to the proposed contract. What I was offered was unworkable and aimed at forcing me to resign.

After this response from the IABA I didn't hold out much hope for any further meaningful progress and needed to move my focus entirely to the preparation of the Irish team for the Worlds and the performance of our boxers at the Worlds. 

Following much reflection and careful personal consideration it became clear to me that the IABA had simply made an offer on the September 14^th on the financial aspects of the deal only because the Minister had placed pressure on them to reach a deal. 

It is my view that the IABA deliberately constructed their subsequent proposed contract in a manner that I could not accept and delayed getting it to me to put me under further pressure in my discussions with the USA.

I firmly believe that they had no intention or desire to engage me into the future.

I believe they did not want me to stay.

I was left with no alternative but to resign.

I could not work for someone who clearly did not want me, who was going out of their way to undermine my position and who wanted me to work under terms that were simply unworkable.

It is time to move one but I need to ensure that the accurate series of events are on the record.

Statement ENDS

IABA position re: resignation of Billy Walsh

Friday 23 October 2015: The Irish Amateur Boxing Association Ltd (IABA) wishes to put on the record its position in relation to the resignation of our colleague and friend Billy Walsh as head coach of the IABA’s High Performance Unit.

Our fundamental position is, and has always been, that
a) We never wanted Billy to leave the organisation, and did everything within reason to meet his demands;
b) The success of Irish boxing is down to a combination of an all island network of dedicated local clubs, coaches, boxers and a High Performance Unit which incorporates a team of highly skilled coaches and talented athletes. This is an effective and highly successful IABA structure that has delivered phenomenally for this country, providing close to 60% of all Irish Olympic medals won to date;
and, very importantly –
c) This is not only about Billy Walsh or any one individual per se (and we are unapologetic about this point). This is about what is in the best interests of Irish boxing and its continued success at all levels. That is the starting and ending point for the IABA as the guardians of the sport, and as a body of volunteers, the length and breadth of the island, that lives eats and breathes this great sport.

Our position focuses on four broad areas, all fundamentally linked to what we believe are in the best interests of Irish boxing, those areas being:
our decision not to communicate extensively on an external basis;
our efforts to retain Billy’s services;
the unhelpful, highly questionable and disingenuous intervention by Sport Ireland in its attack on the IABA and boxing in Ireland this week;
and the structures we now have in place that positions Ireland as strongly as ever for international competition and the forthcoming Olympic Games.

1) The decision not to communicate extensively:
Heretofore, the IABA felt it was inappropriate to publically comment, whilst discussions were underway with Billy in relation to his employment contract.

However, at this stage we have no choice now but to put firmly on the record our position, (and we are more than happy to do so at this point) following what we believe has been a scurrilous, disingenuous and highly questionable attack on Irish boxing by Sport Ireland (formerly the Irish Sports Council), its Chief Executive, Mr John Tracey and its Chairman, Mr Kieran Mulvey.

The IABA looks forward to the opportunity to participate in any independent review process, which the Minister for Sport may set in train. Equally, we are happy to have accepted an invitation by the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to present to it. This would be welcomed by the Board of Directors.

2) Efforts to retain the services of Billy Walsh:
In late February of this year, Billy approached the Chairman and CEO of the IABA indicating that he had received an offer by Team USA to manage the women’s boxing team for what Billy himself termed as “crazy money”. From then on and up until his surprise resignation earlier this week, the IABA never sought to remove Billy from his post as head coach or to change the terms of his employment. In the interests of Irish boxing, we at no stage wanted Billy to leave his position.

Sport Ireland, as the primary administrator of public funds to Irish boxing was immediately contacted by the IABA and Billy’s demands were communicated to the agency. Subsequently, a number of proposals were put to Billy and his advisors.

There was an initial urgency to the process at Billy’s insistence, but that urgency subsequently subsided due to overseas tournaments and competitions and US work visa issues, which took a number of months to complete.

On 22 August a meeting took place and a draft proposal was presented by Sport Ireland to the IABA. In the interests of Irish boxing, the IABA attendees expressed their concerns with the draft proposal. We were given assurances at that point that those concerns would be addressed; however, what transpired was a different draft proposal. Notwithstanding this, the draft proposal was presented by the Chairman to the Board of the IABA on the 25 August, but no formal vote was taken as the Chairman was of the opinion that the vote would be negative, which would have made it more difficult for the organisation to retain Billy’s services as head coach. At this point, we received a communication from Sport Ireland indicating that they had no further role in this matter.
Subsequently, through the good offices of Minister Michael Ring TD, a proposal was brokered by him that was agreed to in full by all parties and then presented to Billy and his advisors in mid September. Formal contracts then followed. Billy’s solicitors reverted with a series of suggested amendments to the contracts, many of which were acceded to by the IABA. Those contracts as amended were again forwarded to his solicitors. The next communication the IABA received was the resignation on 19 October.

This was hugely surprising and disappointing news to the IABA. Billy’s resignation letter and public announcement were so definite that the organisation, again in the interests of Irish boxing as a whole, had no choice but to accept that resignation, with regret.

It is important to point out that in all of our dealings with Billy during this process, the vast majority of the discussions related to remuneration matters. To suggest otherwise, is a total misrepresentation of the facts.

3) Sport Ireland intervention:
The IABA was shocked by the very public attack on it and on Irish boxing, by the Chairman and CEO of Sport Ireland. An attack, that was totally disingenuous and plainly part of a campaign by a statutory state body to exercise control over the IABA’s High Performance Unit.

This, we believe is yet another clear example of Sport Ireland’s officials seeking to go beyond their authority and its statutory mandate and act Ultra Vires their statutory power or remit. The agency has a track record and form in this regard and has paid dearly for it in the past.

The Board of the IABA has full confidence in its leadership team, ably led by CEO, Fergal Carruth. The organisation abides and attests to best practice governance guidelines. The financial accounts of the organisation are fully audited and the IABA rejects in the strongest possible terms the unsubstantiated inferences by Sport Ireland that the IABA is not governed effectively. We hereby call upon the Chairman and CEO of Sport Ireland to unreservedly withdraw the derogatory comments and unsubstantiated allegations made by them against our CEO.

We will vigorously defend the disgraceful allegations made by Sport Ireland, both directly in our future interactions with the agency, and reserve the right to take whatever further action we deem appropriate.

This is a defence of Irish boxing against claims by individuals who have absolutely no experience, knowledge or credibility in this sport, a sport akin to the GAA that is driven at a local level by people passionate about their sport, who are providing the pipeline of boxers that will bring continued success to Ireland on the world stage.
What we find most reprehensible is that Sport Ireland appears to have ulterior motives, does not have the best interests of Irish boxing at heart, has made unsubstantiated allegations, and we believe, have issued threats to funding Irish boxing that are fundamentally illegal and beyond its authority. The organisation was greatly relieved and heartened to hear the comments of Minister’s Donoghue and Ring who have stated that there will be no reduction in the funding of Irish boxing arising out of the resignation of Billy Walsh.

4) Moving on:
Billy made his decision to move to Team USA. We respect that decision and wish him the very best in the future.

Irish boxing has to move on too to ensure sustained and continued success. To that end, Zaur Antia has been appointed on an interim basis as Head Coach. We are grateful to Zaur for agreeing to step into the role and look forward to supporting him and the rest of the coaching team during this transition phase.

We can say with confidence that we have a unified team committed to redoubling efforts to prepare our athletes for Olympic qualification events and to prepare and assist those already qualified for Rio 2016.

The Board of the IABA will meet in early course to instigate a process to recruit and appoint a new Head Coach who will build on the successful legacy of Billy Walsh.

*****

To conclude, the IABA reiterates that at all times our only concern was to deal with this issue in the best interests of Irish boxing.

Statement ENDS

The initial statement released by Billy Walsh detailing his decision to resign;

It is with deep regret that I am announcing my resignation, as of today’s date, October 19^th 2015, as the Head Coach of the Irish High Performance Unit and senior team. This morning I forwarded my resignation to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) Chief Executive Officer Fergal Carruth.

Over the last five decades I have been immersed in the sport of boxing from boy to man and for club and country. I am hugely grateful for the opportunities that my sport has given me both as a boxer and coach.

Since February of this year I have been engaged in a process with the IABA to secure my future as Head Coach with the High Performance Unit and senior team. A protracted process that went on for eight months included numerous high level meetings that resulted in various proposals. In August a fair proposal was developed under the auspices of the Irish Sports Council (ISC) that was acceptable and fair but then not subsequently ratified by IABA.

I was hopeful in recent weeks that a final proposal arising out of an approach in late September by the IABA would lead to a successful conclusion but unfortunately it didn’t.

Regrettably the IABA have not made it possible for me to continue on in the role as Head Coach of the High Performance Unit and senior team.

In starting out on this journey back in 2003 our ambition was centered on building a sustainable system for Irish Boxing and I think we have achieved that. This has been achieved with the work of many excellent people including our outstanding club coaches who produce the pipeline of talent for us in high performance to work with.

Our high performance coaching team contains some of the finest and hardworking coaches in the world, both those from international shores and homegrown. These coaches are part of the legacy of all the hard work it took to build this system.

Zaur Antia, Jim Moore, Eddie Bolger, Pete Taylor, John Conlan, Billy McClean and Dmytri are well positioned to take my work and the work of the high performance programme forward and lead this senior team into Rio to compete for medals. I have the utmost faith and belief in them having worked alongside them for many years. I am certain our boxers will go to Rio in fantastic shape, ready to compete with the world’s best as the high performance structures are in place to ensure this.

To Emira who provides all our administration and logistics support and gets the team all over the world with little fuss thank you.

We are moving in to our 14th year together as a team and I can say that while there were many difficult and challenging times, I have never done anything in my professional life more rewarding.

The boxers I have worked with (too many to mention for fear of leaving some out) have inspired and challenged me in equal measure and I salute their efforts, their courage and their amazing performances down through these last 14 years. I wish to thank them for their trust and support and for allowing me to continue in their corner for every fight they fought on the international stage. I wish them all every success in their endeavors to qualify and secure Olympic Medals at Rio and nobody will be more delighted to see Irish boxers succeed in Rio than me.

To our outstanding sports science and medicine team of physiotherapists, nutritionist, psychologist, strength conditioner, performance analyst and doctor who for all these years operated and performed below the radar so that we could do what we did above it, thank you. This was always a team effort.

I wish to express my gratitude to the Irish Sports Council for all their support and commitment to the IABA High Performance Programme over the course of the last 14 years and most recently in trying to broker an agreement on this matter. The Sports Council have supported Irish boxing and worked tirelessly to find a solution.

I am very conscious that the negotiations have dragged on for quite some time, but the time has come, with the Rio Olympics in sight and with no solution possible, to provide certainty to all concerned.

Finally I would like to thank my wife Christine and my family for all their support and patience during this time.

While leaving the Irish Team has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, my sights are now firmly set on my future role with USA Boxing.  It is a huge honor for me as a coach to receive the opportunity work with such an iconic sporting nation that is the USA. I am greatly looking forward to the opportunities ahead in bringing my expertise and experience to the USA Women’s Team as they prepare for success in Rio and beyond.

END