GPA to ballot members on panels

THE controversial Congress decision to reduce county senior panels to 24, which the Gaelic Players Association vigorously opposes, would not have been pursued if team managers had been consulted.

GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell suggested this after the annual meeting in Tullamore, when he described as 'spurious' the argument put forward by Task Force Chairman Padraic Duffy that the measure would free up more players to help their clubs.

Farrell also maintained that while GAA President Sean Kelly was very amenable to the plight of players, he would be more proactive if he wasn't limited by the constraints of the office.

"I don't know whether he'd say this publicly or not, but I feel he would be quite willing to deal direct with the GPA. But, because of the internal bureaucracy of the GAA and the conservative elements within the ranks, that hasn't come to fruition. That's particularly disappointing because it just highlights the disdain the players are treated with," he commented.

Farrell, who said the GAA's continuing refusal to give them official recognition was outrageous, complained about GPA activists being targeted in their counties. And, he alleged one particular player had received a suspension for which there was "absolutely no merit".

On the thorny issue of player representation, he said they are prepared to enter into a dialogue with Sean Kelly to try and agree on a mechanism to achieve representation on the Central Council. But he conceded he wouldn't expect the GAA to run with the idea of a GPA seat on the Council.

Reiterating that there was no necessity for the Players Committee favoured by the GAA president, he commented: "we are the independent autonomous voice of the players and it just doesn't make sense to go down that road."

One of the main decisions reached at a closed session was to ballot members the association says it represents 85% of all players on the reduction of panels. "The idea is to ascertain the level of reaction on this particular issue and, depending on the results, we would plan a course of action thereafter. The reaction today was one of frustration and anger. The bitter reaction felt here was quite alarming. And, if that's a flavour for what's to come back, then it will be a very serious issue that we'll have to plan a very careful strategy around," explained Farrell.

GPA president DJ Carey agreed it was probably the big issue for members. "We're very unhappy with that decision. Whatever the reason, if it's financial, it certainly has to be looked at.

"Is it players and former players who are making those decisions? To us it doesn't look like they are."

Farrell pointed out that managers he had spoken to said it was a totally spurious argument that players would be freed up to play with their clubs. "How can they maintain that allowing six players off is going to allow a full club programme to take place on a given day?

"Liam Mulvihill and Sean Kelly met with managers a few months ago in Athlone. The issue of the panels was on the agenda and it was pointed out in no uncertain terms not to go near it."

Stating that player welfare had not improved across the board, Farrell maintained GPA members had been targeted since the inception of the organisation four years ago. It happened where "special treatment" was meted out to players who had taken on the role of GPA rep or been very active.

"It happened recently again, on three or four separate occasions. It was a blatant attempt to try and undermine what a county squad might be doing along the lines of GPA business, basically trying to put manners on certain individuals. We're not going to tolerate it."

He was unable to get into 'the nitty-gritty' of the case of the player who had been suspended, but said there would be 'an awful lot more' about it unless it was rectified to their satisfaction.

It was decided to enter into a process of dialogue and consultation with inter-county referees, on the basis that possibly an input from players on an ongoing basis might alleviate the situation where there has been strong criticism of standards in recent times.

A review group is to be established to investigate issues of player welfare and 'discrepancies' between panels within the various counties, as well as 'the lack of accountability of some county boards' in relation to the implementation of regulations laid down by the Central Council.