Camanachd Association Chief Operating Officer Speaks Of Challenges Ahead. | |
03 May 2010 Camanachd Association Chief Operating Officer Torquil MacLeod spoke of the challenges ahead when he talked to John Beattie on Radio Scotland’s Sports Weekly programme on Saturday 1 May 2010.
MacLeod, who is just a matter of weeks in his new role, felt that his main challenge was to get out into the shinty communities and speak to people at grass roots level and hear what they feel the issues facing our sport are.
He accepted that the Camanachd Association’s top post had been “politically difficult” in recent times with 3 new Chiefs in the last 4 years. However he admitted that he was so interested in taking on the new role that he had been “tracking” the post in recent years and he is keen to get the best out of everyone. He was at pains to stress that there were many very capable volunteers in the shinty world who give up their time and put in a lot of effort and he wants to speak to them and hear their views and manage their aspirations.
MacLeod spoke very well during the interview and he believes that good, transparent, open and honest communication is key to how the sport moves forward. He said he will have an “open door policy” with people welcome to drop in to his office in Inverness for a chat or phone or e-mail him.
MacLeod confirmed that there are plans to re-introduce area meetings and wants consultation ahead of the sport’s Strategic Plan for the period 2011 – 2015.
He referred to shinty as a “national cultural asset which makes it special,” but accepts that he will have to compete with other sports to get our share of the limited funding that is available and there is an obvious need to satisfy sportscotland.
He felt the sport had good sponsorship and media coverage but felt more could be done in the fields of Advertising, Ticket sales for events and Merchandising.
MacLeod felt he was supported by a committed Board of Directors and his staff were up for implementing their ideas.
He accepts that young people have many options as to how they spend their leisure time but wants shinty to be their first choice and for clubs to be ready to welcome new participants.
He cited the Association’s commitment to youth shinty with Development Officer’s based in the north and south and a National Development Officer due to be appointed.
The message was clear. “Lets all work together to raise the sport’s profile, funding streams and participating numbers – all for the benefit of shinty!”
You can listen to the interview in full by visiting the BBC iplayer listen again facility where the Sports Weekly programme can be found on the Radio Scotland menu.
Alternatively you can click on the following link and the interview is 36 minutes and 50 seconds into the programme Sports Weekly: 01/05/2010
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