Farrell: players must be heard

GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell has defended the upsurge in player unrest, claiming inter-county panels have every right to make their voices heard when they believe highest of standards are not being met.

The stand-off between the Cork County Board and its senior hurling panel has been the focus of most attention but there have been other uprisings — in Wexford and Offaly — where senior managers have been forced to fall on their swords.

“I don’t see it as player power,” said Farrell. “If it is harnessed it can be very useful. By and large, there is a great willingness amongst officials and county board administrators to engage with players. Players have their fingers on the pulse. They know what is required.

“Players don’t want to be involved with the type of disputes we have seen lately. The only thing they ask for is that the environment they operate in is conducive to success so issues around player welfare, facilities, the performance of county boards and management teams all have an impact in that.

“By and large, where there are no issues, players are very quiet and happy to go and do their training, play their games and stay out of the politics of it. Unfortunately, in certain situations that hasn’t been there.

“There is huge demand for success from the clubs, county boards themselves, supporters. The players are at the coalface and if they are going to commit four or five nights a week they want to make sure that they have a chance of being successful.”

Farrell was in touch with members of the disaffected Offaly panel after the crisis first erupted in the county last week and, while he spoke respectfully about Richie Connor yesterday, he begged to differ with the claim that the players hadn’t followed protocol by taking their complaints to the manager first.

“That’s been debated as well. There are probably two sides to that story. What is important is that there are lessons learned similar to what happened in Wexford, Donegal and in Cork, although that is different because it is much more deep-rooted.

“We brought this up with Croke Park through the formal talks. Nationally and locally, there needs to be formal structures set up where players and county boards can engage on issues that relate to them. That won’t avoid every situation but it will avoid a lot of them.”

Progress in that regard is expected in the coming weeks with the announcement of a Players’ Charter, which it is hoped will set out boundaries and demarcation lines for more a structured relationship between players and county boards.

Dara McGarty of the GPA has been sitting on the committee charged with drawing up the guidelines over the last few months and Farrell clearly believes the proposed structures are long overdue.

“Gone are the days when players will just accept their lot and that includes the appointment of managers as well. They need to be done in a transparent way. The ad hoc approach previously used just won’t work anymore.”

The situation in Cork has diluted the National Hurling League campaign and the stain will only spread this weekend when the unfamiliar Rebel outfit travels to Thurles for the game against Tipp and a ceremonial switching on of the Semple Stadium lights.

Tipp’s Diarmaid Fitzgerald is disappointed they will not be facing a full-strength Cork side but neighbours’ travails haven’t exactly been dominating the conversations in the Premier County’s dressing room lately.

“In the last few weeks there hasn’t been much discussion about it. I suppose it is because the thing is going on for so long. Everybody would love to see it resolved. In saying that, I can’t see any easy solution. There is no middle ground.”

Tony Griffin read from a similar sheet. Clare aren’t due to meet Cork in the league until round four in late March but the former Allstar described the 2008 Rebels’ stance as “brave” once he had a chance to gather his thoughts.

“A lesser group of individuals would have backed down at this stage and just gone back to work. With any conflict it is never resolved until both parties are really, honestly willing to work with one another and I don’t think at this stage either party are.

“Maybe I am wrong in thinking that but as long as that goes on I don’t see how it is going to be resolved. I suppose for it to be resolved the players are going to have to come back in under Gerald McCarthy.”