Farrell says GPA's biggest achievement is to have survived

GAELIC GAMES GPA 10th ANNIVERSARY:ON FRIDAY night in Dublin's Citywest Hotel the Gaelic Players' Association celebrated 10 years of existence at their now annual awards night. In his address chief executive Des Farrell spoke about the improving relations between the players' body and GAA officialdom, as negotiations about formal recognition for the GPA by Croke Park continue.

Farrell cautiously believes that the mere fact of having lasted 10 years provides the greatest cause for celebration.

“The biggest achievement is to have survived and still be in existence. There had been a previous attempt to do something similar around 30 years ago and that petered out over a period of time – and I’d imagine that was the intention of the authorities back then.

“Then when you look at what it set out to do in terms of improving conditions for players that has happened – partly because players mobilised themselves and partly because of a change of mindset among officials.”

Although the talks with Croke Park are inching slowly around the issue of funding for the GPA should it come under the association’s umbrella, both sides appear confident that the talks will be successful even if the player demand for about €2,000,000 (five per cent of GAA revenue) is being resisted.

“I would be confident that there’s a conclusion in sight and (GAA president) Christy Cooney has alluded to that. There are some obstacles to be overcome but in general both sides are confident that progress will be made.”

Looking back at a decade of the organisation Farrell says their motivations were misunderstood for a long time and their intentions misrepresented. He refers specifically to the at times bitter disagreement over the introduction of Government-funded player grants a year ago.

“There was a sense of suspicion or a negative attitude that I think had to do with our perceived agenda. That’s probably dissipated but at times opposition has been quite disappointing. There was a demonstration of that last year in relation to the player grants and the rumpus that developed around that, you know – that it would be the end of the world for amateur status but the earth didn’t stop spinning.”

Unfortunately for the scheme it finally received a green light just as the economic clouds were gathering and the initial allocation of €3,500,000 has been cut already in just the second year to €1,100,000 – a total Farrell accepts but one which he says the GPA will push to distribute more equitably than originally suggested by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

“Its future is a huge concern,” he says, “and it’s unfortunate that it took so long to get going but all we can do is fight for the principle of it. Who knows what the level of cuts in sports funding will be eventually?

“Even in terms of the recession the GPA aren’t immune either because of the dependence on sponsorship, as I have indicated, but also in terms of how players are affected. There are fellas losing their jobs and we’re concerned about these issues and there’s been more engagement with the GPA than ever before in this area – advising on up-skilling, training programmes and going to college. This is a new dynamic for us in the past 12 months or so.”

One constant dynamic in recent years has been disputes between senior players and authorities within the counties. Farrell agrees that these problems have become more widespread but says that the GPA does not concern itself with issues outside of its player welfare remit.

“It’s been difficult because it’s not our core function nor something that we get directly involved in unless there are issues of player welfare at stake. It’s more typical to have disputes centring on relations between managers and players.

“Why are these more common? That’s probably obvious given the commitment necessary at the top level. Then there’s the fact that more and more players are coming through third level and are more confident in themselves and more assertive. They’re not prepared to let issues slide.”

He doesn’t accept that the players group is as unpopular amongst the broad membership of the GAA as some believe, emphasising again the GPA is not an advocacy group for professional or part-time professional contracts.

“We’re about fair play not pay for play and about providing for players’ welfare in a way that won’t impinge on the health of the games. I think most people see that as a fair and reasonable position to take and any market research would indicate positive attitudes towards what we do.”

Where does he believe the organisation will be when it marks its 20th anniversary? “I think it will be no different to other sports organisations of its type that provide for players in the way they should be provided for. Ultimately that’s a very valuable service and it’s delivered by player representative bodies in many different sports. That’s a place we’d like to get to.”