Kelly plan for players’ election

SEÁN KELLY remains to be convinced that GPA members will refuse to have an involvement in the Players Committee he plans to establish through a ballot of inter-county panelists.

Indeed, he expressed the hope after his formal installation as president in Belfast on Saturday that the GPA would have a rethink about not having anything to do with the committee.

Confirming that it was his intention to hold an election, he said: "I would be hoping of getting some kind of an elective system where we can get the players on a committee, elected by the players, and then we would take it from there."

He may be in a position to outline the exact procedure at the next meeting of the Central Council. While he was aware of the stand taken by the GPA that they would not be party to a Croke Park committee, he said he wasn't so sure how correct that was.

"Firstly, I only became president today and they took a decision last January on something that the details had not been worked out.

Obviously every player in the country isn't aware of what the procedure will be and how the committee would work.

Secondly, as I understand it, the annual meeting of the GPA was held in camera. So, we don't really know what information was given and indeed, how people could give them information that couldn't be totally relied on when I hadn't taken up office."

For that reason, he was hopeful the matter might be looked at again. "I propose leaving the door open for the involvement of players, as I am anxious to give our inter-county players an opportunity to play a role in the democratic process.

"And, I would appeal to each and every one of them to consider this democratic option very seriously."

Mr Kelly explained that he hadn't spoken about the perceived threat to the association's amateurism in his address because he was aware that Seán McCague was covering it.

Acknowledging the importance of player welfare, he expressed the hope that through the findings of the Amateur Status Report they could come to a satisfactory solution within their amateur strictures.

While the report has yet to be published, it's believed that one of the main recommendations will be an increase in the travel allowance to 50 cent a mile.

Mr Kelly's formal address was delivered in the presence of his wife Juliette and four children, his proud parents and a contingent from his home parish of Kilcummin.

His older son Pádraig was a Kerry youth delegate while the younger of his two daughters, Julie, celebrated her 8th birthday on Saturday.

Mr Kelly expressed the view that the GAA had allowed themselves to be conditioned into thinking that they did well if they received equal treatment in government funding as rugby and soccer.

His view was that they were catering for two major field games and that each deserved separate consideration.

Dealing with the possible use of Croke Park for other sports, he indicated that he would be obliged to put his personal views to one side while fulfilling his duty to uphold and defend current policy.

And, he emphaised that neither the FAI nor the IRFU had ever applied to the association for the use of Croke Park for their games.

"Only time will tell whether these two organisations make a definite decision to request the use of our national stadium, considered by many to be the ultimate reflection of the confident modern Ireland we are privileged to live in," he added.