The IABA have broken their silence over Billy Walsh's resignation this morning on The Pat Kenny Show.
The Associations President Pat Ryan and Chairman Joe Christle spoke to the show to discuss the resignation, 24 hours after Walsh flew to America to take up a new position with USA Boxing.
A deal that was agreed on August 22nd between Walsh and the IABA was put to the IABA board three days later but was not put to a vote according to Christle. He revealed the deal was not put to a vote "because I knew it wouldn't pass". A failed voted could "prejudice" future talks with Walsh. "Every possible thing in our power to retain his services" was done, Christle added.
A second deal was brokered in Athlone in September with the IABA and the Irish Sports Council by Sports Minister Michael Ring. A deal "with the full consent" of both bodies was agreed with Walsh on the following working day offering "all the working terms" that Minister Ring and the Irish Sports Council asked for.
"We did not want a bonus to be paid to one coach and not all coaches and we did not want a bonus to be organised and paid to coaches and not boxers". Minister Ring helped negotiate a deal where a bonus pool was set to be split 50-50 with the boxers and coaches. Christle added that the deal gained the "unanimous approval" of the IABA board. He said he spoke to Billy Walsh about the deal and was told the the former head coach was "satisfied" with the deal which was concluded with a handshake.
Christle told Pat Kenny that he rang Irish Sports Council Chief Executive John Treacy and Minister Ring to let them know that the deal was concluded. Contracts were exchanged and only needed to be signed.
"Non financial aspects of the contact" are the reason for Walsh's resignation but did not outline what those aspects were according to Christle. John Treacy told the IABA on Wednesday that Walsh did not know whether he was the head coach and leader of the team. Minister Ring, John Treacy and the IABA all left that meeting expecting Walsh to sign the contract. The Wexford native handed in his resignation letter on Monday morning.
"The IABA have not seen the terms of the contract signed (by Walsh) in America". Christle thinks that "something happened" between last weekend when Walsh said he was in contract negotiations and his resignation on Saturday.
"What we have to now is draw a line in the sand", Christle told The Pat Kenny Show and added that Walsh's former assistant Zaur Antia has become the interim head coach with the High Performance Unit. Walsh "was a valued and esteemed colleague" and Christle wished him the best in his new position in America.
