Carey wants GPA on Central Council
Elected as president of the association at their AGM, Carey believes that a move to select a replacement to Jarlath Burns would be akin to rubbing the noses of the players in the ground.
Denying that the GPA was pushing for professionalism, he didn't dispute that they are seeking a weekly allowance.
"I have always been of the opinion that we should not be swallowed up by the GAA. We should be the main voice the only voice of players in the Association," said Carey in an RTE Radio interview.
"Players know players the best, and certainly any players' representative especially now should be voted in by players and not by anyone else. I don't want to be telling anyone their business, but someone that's selected is not the right way to be going.
"We have a players organisation, borne from the fruits of what has gone in the past and the lack of what went on in the past. There is no one in any doubt that any moves made in the last few years in regard to players and in regard to holidays, have certainly come from the GPA."
While acknowledging that Jarlath Burns and the other members of the Committee had done a great job, he didn't see why someone separate from within should be appointed in his place: "Our person the person we want should be on Central Council. We don't want to bring down any organisation. Remember it's our organisation too. It's not a 'theirs and ours.'"
Emphasising that pay-for-play was not on the agenda, Carey argued that while the GAA was an amateur organisation, players trained as professionals.
"We do everything as professionals, but we are amateur and that is the way we want it to stay, full stop.
"But, we have a professional element (in the GAA). There are people getting paid within the association and that has to happen to keep the organisation going on a full-time basis. To say we are strictly amateur, we are not. We are a professional organisation from the top. The only ones that are not professional are the players. There would be no GAA kept going without players and we want to ensure that we will have players in the future, both at club and inter-county level."
Meanwhile, the return of Padraic Joyce to competitive action with Galway footballers at the week-end signalled the settlement one of several issues confronting manager John O'Mahony and co-selectors Pete Warren and Stephen Joyce.
There had been earlier speculation about his future intentions, after implied criticism of the management following the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat by Kerry and speculation on a possible move to another county. However, O'Mahony indicated all along that he was confident of his former captain returning to the fold and this was confirmed when Joyce recently joined the panel in training. He was the team's top scorer in the FBD game against Mayo on Sunday.
However, a month's suspension imposed following a sending-off at club level late last year, means that he will miss Galway's opening Allianz NFL game against Donegal in Tuam on Sunday, as well as the next two rounds against Tyrone and Kerry (on February 9 and 16). He was able to play at the week-end because, under regulations introduced two years ago, suspensions do not apply in January.
Speedy wing-back Declan Meehan, likewise, will be an absentee for the same games. He flew to New Zealand after the Vodafone Allstars tour last week for an extended holiday.
In the meantime, there is no news concerning the future intentions of utility defender Tomás Mannion and midfielder Kevin Walsh. It's understood that both players are finding difficulty in deciding to commit themselves to a further year's training and games activity. Walsh has a young family and was recently appointed as manager to his club side, Killanin.
Michael Donnellan is likely to be sidelined for the next month or two by a troublesome groin injury.
The net result is that several other members of the All-Ireland winning Under-21 squad will be promoted for their first league game on Sunday.
In the meantime, Galway will await the outcome of a Connacht Council meeting in Ballyhaunis this evening with interest. At stake is the issue of whether or not they will progress to the final of the FBD tournament or if Mayo advance. There was confusion at the end of the counties' game in Garrymore on Sunday.
Mayo won by a margin of 13 points, (2-14 to 0-7), but the belief was that Galway were winners on the basis of scoring difference. It emerges that on Saturday night they were informed by a Connacht Council official that they would qualify for the final as long as they avoided losing by a margin of 14 points.
"We had an advantage of +17 after winning our earlier games by seven and ten points. It was pointed out to us that Mayo had an advantage of +3, after losing one game by a point and winning the next by four. That's what gave the difference of 14 points,'' he explained.
"We will abide by whatever decision is reached at the meeting tonight.''
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