By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

The Ulster Council is facing a major shake-up in the coming months, with more than 60 per cent of county delegates ineligible for re-election to the provincial council.

Under GAA rules, officers cannot spend longer than five years in a position, and so many of the delegates must stand down from their elected positions as Ulster Council delegates. They are of course free to run for an alternative position within their own counties, but it means that the provincial council is set to lose many of its most experienced officials for the 2010 season.

Both Cavan delegates, Oliver Galligan and Tom Reilly, must vacate their positions, with Galligan eyeing up the Ulster PRO role and Reilly having set his sights on the Cavan chairmanship.

Down pair Gerry Mullan and Fintan Mussen are also both out, as are long-serving Tyrone duo Liam Neilis and Cuthbert Donnelly. Fermanagh's two delegates, Martin McBrien and Brian Armitage are also forced to step aside, with Monaghan's Declan Flanagan having served five years and returning to the Farney county board along with their second delegate, Paul Curran. Armagh's John Moley completes the list of those who have served their five years as Ulster Council delegates and must therefore step aside.

It all points towards a much less experienced Ulster Council, but Ulster Council PRO Michael Hasson insists that there will be no issue of inexperience in such key areas as disciplinary and hearings committees.

"A lot of delegates are moving on, but at the same time anyone who is going to be elected by their county as an Ulster Council delegate has obviously come up through the ranks within their own county. They're all experienced, they know what they're doing and they'll be more than qualified for a role within the Ulster Council.

There will also be changes at the top table, with the three-year rule for Ulster Council officers hitting home for the incoming year. President Tom Daly will step aside, but is free to take on a different position within the management committee. The same is true for vice-president Aoghan Farrell, PRO Michael Hasson, and treasurer Martin McAviney. The only officer exempt from the three-year rule is Ulster secretary Danny Murphy, who is in a paid position on a five-year contract.