The GAA's Director General Paraic Duffy has said that the reason a tiered championship hasn't been implemented in gaelic football is down to the counties opting against the idea.
While many fans and members of the media have called for the implementation of such a system, Duffy has said that the only thing preventing a tiered championship is a lack of interest from the counties who would be placed in the lower tiers.
"The one change I would have liked to have seen was a tiered championship in football, but the counties who would have been in the lower tier simply showed no interest, and until such time as they decide 'we want to play in a tiered championship that we have a chance of success in', that won't change. I think that will come in time".
Joining Off The Ball's Joe Molloy in studio to discuss his annual report, the Director General claimed that the players don't want to see the current system changed, and said that the power when it comes to making changes like that lies in the hands of the county boards and their players.
"Two years ago we put forward a proposal to Congress for a B championship involving the eight teams currently in Division Four, and the week before Congress they all told us 'we don't want it, and we will not vote for it'.
"That's what the players said to us, that they didn't want a tiered system. And if we didn't listen to the players it'd be said, 'oh the GAA has no respect for the views of its players'. I don't think you can force a tiered system on players or counties. I would like to think that they'll come to a point where they'll realise that a change will be better, but we're not at that point at the moment, and we are a democracy. When people want to change, we'll change".
Duffy, whose report also touched on the issues of illegal payments to managers as well as the Sky Sports deal, stated that there will be change as soon as it's called for, but also noted the positive changes that have been made by the organisation over the past year.
"We're a democracy. I'm not a dictator, there are no dictators in this organisation. We put forward proposals but in the end counties have to agree to change, and to be fair they did agree to change last year. They agreed to change the dates of the All-Ireland finals, they agreed to change the format of the football championship, and the format of the hurling championship, and I do believe if in the future a proposal is acceptable to the counties for a tiered championship emerges I'm sure that will go through".
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