Mulvey reveals his frustration at players

LABOUR Relations Commission chief executive Kieran Mulvey has vented his frustration at the insistence of Cork footballers and hurlers that Teddy Holland and his management team relinquish their positions.

Holland was appointed football manager against the wishes of the players who claim his resignation is the only way of solving this controversy.

That remains the sole stumbling block in this saga, leading Mulvey to point out:

“There is a general principle in the conduct of mediation of disputes that it is impossible and shouldn’t be a continuous situation whereby asking one side — either players or management — for a position that is just not capable of delivery.”

Mulvey revealed he met with football manager Holland and his hurling counterpart Gerald McCarthy this week as he continues to find a resolution.

“I had the opportunity with Paraic Duffy to meet both hurling and football managers. One would have to be impressed with the calibre of both men and the professionalism they bring to an amateur sport.”

Despite a refusal to budge on the Holland issue, Mulvey insisted the county board have made a number of concessions to the players — with the footballers in particular set to benefit.

“What we feel is we have very strong commitments from the Cork County Board that will enhance the involvement of players — a good voice for players if you will — in the running of the county.

“Also we feel some of the proposals we made would enhance the capacity and capability particularly of the Cork football team.”

When questioned if this would relate to how managers and selectors are appointed, Mr Mulvey replied that the footballers would have: “a significant say and progress around that issue within the rules of the County Cork GAA and its Association and a voice now that it would appear they did not have in the past.”

But he would not be drawn on the matter of those players serving under Teddy Holland, who was appointed for a two-year term.

“It is not for me as a mediator or Paraic Duffy in the context of the roles we were playing for us to decide the business of the Cork County Board. We had a view and we have committed that to both sides.”

Mulvey also said that fail safes were introduced in the proposal document to prevent a U-turn by the board. Such a consideration is believed to be in response to agreements reached after the 2002 dispute which players feel were reneged on at the start of this row.

“I would feel — and this may emerge in time — that situation will not arise again. I would feel in future the position the players advocated in 2002 and advocated again in 2007 — a significant amount of those issues and justifiable concerns will be addressed.”

He revealed that there was little if any face-to-face talks between players and board representatives over the past two weeks. Instead he and Duffy operated a system of “shuttle diplomacy”. But he stressed such a tactic is relatively commonplace in such circumstances.

He also dismissed suggestions of GPA involvement in the dispute as a number of high profile Cork players are members of the Association, including Donal Óg Cusack, who sits on the GPA executive.

“It hasn’t emerged in the talks I had. People comment around that in the media but it has not been put to me by either side. We have focussed entirely on the position in Cork.”

Mr Mulvey who is more accustomed to dealing with high profile labour relations matters also warned against people who may downplay the significance of this row because it exists outside of an economic forum.

“People in Cork are very proud of their Gaelic tradition. They have ever reason to be, the GAA is one of the most powerful amateur associations in the world. It has an extraordinary track record. This is bread and butter to Cork people and they are facing the prospect now of having no enjoyment this year on the stages of GAA.”