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.