Farrell: we’d keep sponsors

THE GPA’s annual income from its commercial tie-ins with ‘partners’ such as Energise Sport, Opel and Halifax amounts to approximately €900,000 per annum.

Chief executive Dessie Farrell has also revealed that the 5% of the GAA’s gross income which the players’ body is seeking — which amounted to €2m last year — would be in addition to this independently sourced finance.

“It would be,” he said. “There would be an agreement between the players’ association and the governing body outlining parameters laid down in the commercial sector. The GAA could say that ‘in areas X, Y and Z you are not allowed to engage in certain commercial activities as that is our concern’.”

Farrell responded to the GAA’s earlier press conference on official recognition by agreeing that the two bodies remained miles apart and added that an escalation in the dispute was possible.

“Initial reaction from the players was a great sense of disappointment and some were very angry in that there was no change,” he explained.

“We don’t believe their position has altered one iota.

“Yes we want to be officially recognised and they want to officially recognise us but that’s easily said. It’s the nuts and bolts that are important.”