Donegal players rebel against board

DONEGAL’s entire football panel has rowed in behind outspoken GAA chairman Danny Harkin over his “expenses for players” plea which has angered County Board colleagues in the county.

Though the Donegal County Board distanced themselves from Harkin’s comments, he remains unrepentant yesterday as he welcomed the support of the players, who issued a statement through the GPA last night.

“I am delighted that the players have supported me on this, and maybe now certain officials will have to concede its time to look at the issue,” Harkin said. “But, I am not resigning over what I said, or I am not back-tracking on a single word I said.

“I have never talked about pay for play or professionalism. I sent a letter to Liam Mulvihill yesterday, outlining my views. All I want is for players to get compensated for whatever they are out of pocket for playing with their county. And if I am suspended over this, I will see that as a serious infringement of my civil liberties as regards free speech.”

Other Donegal GAA chiefs are understood to have given Harkin an opportunity to withdraw his comments earlier in the week. When the chairman refused, the board dissociated themselves from what he said.

However, the backing of the Donegal players has strengthened the chairman’s hand.

“His comments were an enlightened contribution to the ongoing debate about the treatment of senior county players in Gaelic football and hurling,” the players’ statement read.

“His comments were the first public recognition by one of the game’s administrators that players must be compensated for their efforts. The stance taken by the county board is regrettable and we wish to protest in the strongest possible terms regarding the action the executive officers have taken.

“Instead of reasoned debate on the issues raised by Danny Harkin, County Board officers have obviously decided to keep their heads buried in the sand and hope that the controversy will go away. We wish to make it clear that we will continue to campaign for the right of all inter-county players to be compensated for the financial loss they now suffer through their involvement in the game at the highest level.”

The Donegal move is the second players v county board row this week, with the Cork hurling dispute continuing to fester.

Mr Harkin reiterated his points that what he said was no infringement of Rule 12. His comments come from years of watching players, particularly those who are self-employed, losing income because of their involvement with the county panel. And he echoed the sentiments expressed by the players that it is about time Croke Park recognised how much income players are losing.

“We have built a fantastic stadium in Croke Park, one of the best in the world,” Harkin said. “And in a few years time, that could just become a field of dreams because if players aren’t reimbursed soon for being out of pocket, there will be nobody left playing the games.”