Donegal squad backs Harkin

The Donegal senior football squad have released a statement backing under-fire County Board chairman Danny Harkin.

Harkin was recently castigated by his colleagues for espousing a pay-for-play situation for inter-county players.

The Donegal County Board yesterday admitted they wished to "distance" themselves from such outbursts.

But the players responded: "His comments were an enlightened contribution to the debate about the treatment of senior inter-county players in football and hurling.

"It was the first public recognition by one of the game's administrators that players must be compensated for their efforts."

Earlier this year Donegal ace Brendan Devenney threatened to quit GAA because of the financial strain it was putting on him.