Cooney confident deal will help both bodies

GAA President Christy Cooney has expressed his confidence the proposed five-year recognition protocol deal between the Association and the GPA will be given the green light by counties over the coming three weeks.

The two bodies yesterday unveiled the agreement, which will see the GAA provide over €8m in funding to the players’ body over the next five years.

Under its terms, the GAA will provide the GPA with €1.5m in base funding this year rising to a maximum of €2m in 2015.

The deal also contains the formulation of a disputes resolution process which will be followed if there are grievances either between the two parties or involving an inter-county panel with their board or manager such as those involving Cork and Limerick in recent years.

Describing the protocol, which will come under review in mid-2012, as “realistic and balanced”, Cooney expects it to be voted in by Central Council on February 12th after it has been discussed by the county boards.

“To be truthful, having gone through what we went through last year (with the interim agreement); Central Council having sanctioned it, Congress having made the decision they made, I’d be surprised (if it wasn’t passed),” said Cooney.

“I think the counties would welcome the comprehensive agreement and have a clear understanding of what’s in it.

“I think the disputes resolution situation is a significant area that counties would be very pleased with and, if we’re being consistent as an Association, regarding the decision we take, then no I don’t envisage any difficulty.”

The deal also accommodates for an increase or decrease in the base funding based on the GAA’s annual income.

“It can come down if something happens, if there’s a hole in the bucket or we have a situation in any given year,” said Cooney.

“But it’s something we’d work through as an Association, as a joint body, we’d work through it and there are ways of dealing with that.”

Sitting alongside Cooney, GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell said there is now a common bond between the organisations and they have seen the merits of working with each other.

“The trust that has developed over the last 18 months between both organisations is significant and shouldn’t be understated,” he said.

“I think once you have that foundation in place an awful lot can be achieved together.”

While the GPA are now primarily bankrolled by the GAA and have articulated their full commitment “to securing and protecting the amateur status/ voluntary ethos of the GAA”, Farrell is adamant their independence hasn’t been compromised and they will remain in their Drumcondra office close to Croke Park.

Farrell revealed the GPA now have seven full-time and one part-time employees. He also explained the breakdown of the €1.5m between services and administration is approximately 2:1 although pointed out €100,000-plus of the €500,000 is spent on the players gala night.

Farrell confirmed the fees incurred by commissioning sports management guru Fintan Drury as a member of the GPA negotiating team would be paid from GPA funds, not the GAA’s.

Presented yesterday by GAA director of games administration and player welfare Feargal McGill, the comprehensive agreement is broken into four broad areas — funding, governance, operational and commercial.

The deal will see the GPA wind down their existing sponsorships such as Opel and Club Energise, which run out this year and in 2013 respectively.

If the protocol is passed, the GPA will form a joint committee with the GAA to pursue new commercial funding.

The income generated by the venture will be split evenly between them with the former putting their share into the player injury scheme.

McGill also commended the GPA on establishing a governance manual which details exactly what they are entitled to do and responsible for.

A joint review committee will also be established to review player welfare programmes as well as future initiatives. It will also have the power to approve joint as well as independent GPA commercial activity.

The protocol is a culmination of efforts since December 2009 when an interim GPA agreement was passed by Central Council.

Since then, an eight-person steering group, featuring four from each body such as Central Hearings Committee chairman and solicitor Liam Keane for the GAA and Drury on the GPA’s side, has met to hammer out the deal before it was drafted into a rule.

Farrell also pointed out the importance of Cooney’s input in helping to ensure the future of the players’ government grants scheme.

“Christy has been very helpful in that regard already. Maybe in years gone by we were somewhat isolated in terms of campaigning and lobbying on our own behalf.

“But I think the new relationship and trust that has been built up in the GAA has been hugely helpful in what we need to do in terms of that scheme.”

MAIN POINTS

* Initial €1.5m base funding from GAA for 2011 to a maximum of €2m in 2015 (level can rise or decrease depending on GAA annual income)

* GAA to review GPA expenditure every three months or monthly if and when required

* Existing commercial sponsorships to be wound down with joint review committee being set up to seek commercial funding with income generated being split 50:50

* Disputes resolution agreement put in place to resolve potential difficulties and work together to help mediate in possible county disputes