Sharp rise in number of players now out of work
The Players’ Association report that anecdotal evidence leaves between 15% to 20% of the their members out of work.
Though stressing that such numbers are not scientifically calculated the Association’s spokesman Sean Potts last night admitted that more and more players are contacting them seeking advice and help in relation to employment matters.
The GPA this year rolled out a number of services in response to the economic downturn which includes a career development advisor, an education advice panel and a counselling service.
Potts said: “The anecdotal evidence we have puts the unemployment figure between 15% to 20% but that also includes perhaps students who are not in full time unemployment.
“Yet what we know for certain is that there has been a big increase in recent months in the number of our members out of work and seeking our help. The effects of the downturn are only being felt by many now.
“One of the problems for us is that a lot of our members were involved in construction and many of the trades and businesses which were related to it. All of those are being decimated now.”
He continued: “The growing fear is that many larger scale companies, who are now starting to feel the impact of the recession may be forced to lay off staff in the months and years ahead.”
Potts reported that the GAA playing regions hardest hit include the north west of Ireland, Monaghan and Clare.
He said the Association’s career development advisor, Mairead Griffin, is now travelling around the country to meet players and assist them.
Potts said: “She is working full time on the road, meeting players on a personal level and with squads. She talks them through their situations and what options are open.
“She has been down with a number of squads, including Clare, and developing their options.”
Potts added: “The uptake has been good but it is early in the process and is taking time. She has met with a number of panels and there has been a few success stories but unfortunately there isn’t a magic want you can wave which will create jobs for every inter-county player.
“So the key is to develop their potential and with it their options.”
Aside from the work of Griffin, Potts said the other new projects which came on stream after Christmas arealso receiving positive feedback.
“We have an education advice panel who have been extremely busy while we also have established a counselling service for players. We have a number of qualified counsellors in place nationwide that can be accessed at any time by players that run into personal difficulties whatever they may be.
“But it is vital in this that there is good communication with the given managers as they will invariably be the first point of contact for many players who have such issues.”
Potts also revealed that the GPA has plans to roll out a number of other services in the near future including business and mentoring advice to help their members to develop at work.
He continued: “The support programmes which we rolled out can only benefit players.
“Our objective is to build up structures in the coming years to help players develop away from the field of play from the moment they join an intercounty squad.
“The objective of all of this is that any player doesn’t lose out in professional life due to his commitments to playing football and hurling.”
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