GPA backs Dublin players’ newspaper deal

THE GPA fully supports Dublin’s move to enter into a private arrangement with a newspaper to capitalise on the commercial potential of individual players for the overall benefit of the team.

Chief Executive Dessie Farrell said yesterday it should be aim of every county to protect the image rights of players and to prevent rogue traders from exploiting them. “This is something that County Boards, Croke Park and the GPA could work in harmony on,’’ he commented.

However, Dublin GAA chiefs have moved quickly to dispel the notion that they had sold the image rights of the players to the Dublin Daily News, due for publication soon. And, chairman John Bailey was at pains to stress that manager Tommy Lyons had gone ‘on a solo run’ in helping to negotiate the agreement.

Pointing out that it was not a sale of image rights, Dublin County Board explained in a statement that they had entered into an arrangement by which a number of individual players had been committed ‘to personally endorse the new newspaper in various ways.’

“This player arrangement is not in breach of the Association’s ‘amateur status’ guidelines nor is it in breach of the County Board sponsorship arrangements with The Evening Herald or Arnotts, both of which are very much appreciated and valued. The Dublin County Board are pleased to see that players of our games are being appreciated in this manner at long last.

“Tommy Lyons, since becoming manager of the Dublin football team, has not only raised the profile but has helped to raise substantial funds for the County Board in its many other activities. Tommy Lyons is continuing in the great tradition of his predecessor and does not receive any remuneration from the Dublin County Board.

“This arrangement does not affect the Dublin team or management dealing with the national sports media. Dublin will continue to run an open house approach.’’

Elaborating, John Bailey insisted the arrangement entered into would be ‘in the best interests’ of the Board and the players. Individual players who are used by the newspaper for promotion purposes will receive a fee and the balance will be allocated to a team pool.

“Last years, various people jumped on the bandwagon and the players got nothing,’’ he commented.

From a GPA perspective, Dessie Farrell says that it is a concern that for a long time ‘rogue traders had got away scot free’ and profiteered on the backs of players. Last year, for instance, an English-based dealer sold anything up to 2,000 clocks (showing photos of players from different eras) from the back of a van. Farrell says that the same dealer made ‘a small fortune’ in Dublin.

Expressing the view that the legitimate media had nothing to fear from the latest moves, he said the GPA ‘would only have an issue’ where players’ images were used by different companies for sponsorship or endorsement without their consent. “Already the GPA took two companies to task and they settled out of court.

“The fact that the players have now assigned their image rights to the GPA will allow us to police this with greater vigour.’’

Meanwhile, Farrell confirmed that a meeting with GAA leaders is imminent, possibly within the next fortnight. One of the issues that may be raised relates to the establishment of a new Players Committee. At their recent AGM, members were unanimous that the GPA should go it alone and remain independent.

“From that point of view the ball is back in Croke Park’s court and Sean Kelly in particular,’’ he commented. “It will be interesting to see what stance he takes on it now.’’