GPA fund bailing out players in trouble

THE GPA have paid out sums of money ranging between €1,000 and €3000 to 19 current and former inter-county players who suffered financial problems due to the economic crisis, from the organisation’s benevolent fund over the past 18 months.

GPA spokesperson Sean Potts revealed on the Irish Examiner’s Sports Podcast the establishment last year of a past players’ advisory group is a key element in their aims to increase the size of the fund. Indeed they believe the number of current and former players seeking access to the fund will increase in the coming months.

“The benevolent fund is there to help people who might have mortgage problems or have young families and have lost a job,” he said.