Cooney set to reveal details of GPA deal

GAA President Christy Cooney will unveil the proposed five-year GPA official recognition agreement along with the player body’s chief executive Dessie Farrell this week.

Cooney explained the details of the deal will be revealed at a joint press conference before it goes to the counties for approval.

“The GPA (deal) was of consideration and that will soon be going to the counties,” he said after the document was distributed to Central Council on Saturday.

“It will be reviewed at the next meeting of Ard Chomairle, which will be February 12th. We will be making an announcement with the GPA over the next couple of days. We want to outline the proposed agreement then so people know what is involved. Until we do that it won’t be going before the counties.”

Cooney endorsed the proposed €8m-plus five-year agreement, pointing out it was the culmination of a year’s worth of negotiations.

“We’ve worked quite hard over the last 12 months since we made the proposal to Coiste Bainisti and Ard Chomhairle and, in fairness, I think it was a very good exercise of co-operation and development.”

Cooney revealed Central Council won’t take any action against Cavan despite them breaking the inter-county winter training ban in Breffni Park.

“They sent in a letter to us outlining their position, which we were happy to accept,” Cooney said.

“We don’t believe they deviated in any way above the rule.”

Cooney also confirmed that the Leinster Council found no case against Wexford club Faythe Harriers after allegation that they rented out their facilities to a soccer team.

“The Leinster Council has dealt with that, as they would do, and they’ve accepted Faythe Harriers’ explanation that there was no deviation there either.

Leinster are happy with that and we’ve no reason to doubt that situation.”

Saturday’s Central Council meeting also approved the GAA’s budget for 2011, which was presented by the Association’s director of finance Tom Ryan.