Paraic Duffy has warned that Croke Park won't be able to bail out every club that has been left with massive debts as a result of the collapse of the economy.

Some clubs, including reigning Leinster football champions Portlaoise who find themselves €6.5 million in debt after a property deal they were involved in fell through, are struggling to meet their repayments and the GAA director-general admits they are desperately in need of help.

"There are clubs in distress. The classic one, and the one that's well known, is Portlaoise," he said in The Irish Daily Star.

"Croke Park simply can't go in and bail out every club in distress, but there are situations when Croke Park and provincial councils will have to take a role.

"It is a concern. Generally speaking, the GAA is in good shape, but you have to acknowledge that there is a fair amount of debt out there. There are a lot of clubs who borrowed to fund really good projects, but repayments are more difficult now. It is a tough financial time.

"At Croke Park level we're fine, but there are clubs and counties who took on major developments and repayments are a problem. A lot clubs and units are finding it difficult.

"Clubs were unfortunate because they built new facilities and couldn't sell their own, or were promised to sell their own and the money didn't come through." Tweet

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