GPA unhappy with talks

THE Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players Association said in Cork last night that his members are dissatisfied with progress in negotiations between their organisation and the GAA over expenses for inter-county players.

Dessie Farrell said that no inter-county player wanted a players’ strike but, if negotiations with the GAA were not concluded satisfactorily, such a strike would be an option.

“It is a road that players don’t want to travel but, ultimately, if we feel the GPA is not being taken seriously and the requests of the players are falling on deaf ears, it remains an alternative, yes,” Farrell admitted in direct response to questions about the possibility of a players’ strike.

The GPA has had four meetings with the GAA over the players’ association’s demands for recognition by Croke Park and for a 127 weekly allowance for inter-county players for as long as they remained in the All-Ireland championships.

Farrell was speaking in Cork where he was attending a meeting of the County senior hurling panel called to discuss the players’ grievances with their county board.

A meeting between the players and the executive of the county board is due to take place over the coming weeks. Former Cork captain Mark Landers said players were unhappy at their treatment by the County Board in recent times.