'Pay for play' not on

THE GAA must be prepared to debate 'current difficulties' for inter-county players as a matter of urgency, Clare Chairman Fr Michael McNamara told yesterday's annual convention.

'Pay-for-play' was not an option, but neither was it desired by the majority of their players, he suggested. What was required was a proper appreciation of the huge sacrifices they were continuing to make and a respect for that effort.

Fr. McNamara told delegates that their amateur ethos remained 'one of the core values' of the Association, and to change that would be to the detriment of our Association." "We also have to acknowledge the voluntary contribution of so many hard-working people at all levels of the Association from our own clubs, to county board level, central level, right to the top. And that contribution has to be respected." "I would say that the primary thing is that 'pay-for-play' is not on. It will shock and destroy the very foundations on which our Association is built. I see that as neither an option or as something that is desired by the majority of county players when you talk to them. "But what is desired and is a very definite option is that the massive contribution of our county players, the sacrifices they make and the time they give, are recognised, acknowledged, respected and rewarded. In his view, the time was 'now ripe' for the Association to sit down with the players' representatives and deal with the current difficulties. And, he believes these difficulties can be resolved if they are faced up to now 'honestly, with vision, realism and with mutual respect.'

Dealing with the recent Special Congress, Fr. McNamara said that while he regretted the rejection of so many recommendations, he was hopeful that many of them would be 're-visited' in the near future. Closer to home, he said he would be setting up a review committee after Christmas to examine the workings of the Association in the county. *THERE were calls at yesterday's convention for the GAA to break its link with Guinness through the sponsorship of the All-Ireland hurling championship. However, a show of hands revealed that they were more or less evenly divided on the issue. Central Council delegate Tom Downes acknowledged that there was concern about the sponsorship, but they were legally contracted to the company until 2004. Corofin Chairman Fr Ger Nash, urged the Associaton to make 'a statement of intent' about ending the link. It would 'restore credibility,' he suggested, before the Government intervened and the Association was 'handed back its soul on a plate.'