Disturbing trends need to be tackled - Fitzgerald

WITH THE Limerick hurling crisis still resigned to apparent stalemate, Munster Council chief executive Pat Fitzgerald makes reference to the “disturbing” trend of player-manager fall-out in his address to the provincial convention in Listowel this Friday.

Fitzgerald also refers to the issue of alleged payments to club and county managers as something the GAA “need to tackle”.

Fitzgerald, the former Clare secretary, has called on all counties to embrace the new national agreement being drawn up by the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) as a way of preventing such situations, which currently has Limerick fielding a largely second-rate hurling team, as the majority of seasoned players continue to refuse to play under manager Justin McCarthy.

Two league defeats from two league starts has merely underlined the futility of the situation.

“Last year I briefly mentioned difficulties which arose in Cork on player issues,” says Fitzgerald. “Sadly this issue surfaced in other counties this year, with Clare and Limerick being embroiled in conflict between players and officials.

“This trend is a disturbing one and we would now hope that with the national agreement between the GAA and the GPA these issues will become less frequent if not a memory altogether.

“I personally support this agreement. I believe that there is only room for one Association; players, officials and members working together to develop and promote our games, our culture and our Association.

“We must all be aware of the responsibilities we have. Mutual respect is a two-way street. No person or group hold a monopoly on respect because of their position. Genuine grievances must be sorted out in a spirit of harmony with all sides willing to listen.”

But in a sort of side-swipe at players who were effectively going on strike, Fitzgerald was a little more damning: “I respect any player who wishes to remove themselves for whatever reason, from their respective intercounty panel, however I believe the term “strike” or “picket” have no place in the GAA vocabulary.

“I say this as a former trade union representative, as our games and our association is amateur, and the voluntary efforts of our members is what sustains us. Players who leave their intercounty career should respect others’ viewpoints as they expect others to respect theirs.

“From an organisational point of view we must be more proactive with our players at intercounty level, making sure we are always aware of issues before they become confrontational. The day of expecting players to play and shut their mouths are over, and rightly so.”

Fitzgerald then addresses the issue of alleged payments to club and county managers: “We expect our players and officials to perform on a voluntary basis” he says, “and yet anecdotally we hear stories of supporters clubs or some such other group, paying these managers at both club and county.

“This must cease if we are to be credible in what we say. I do not wish to tarnish the commitment of most team managers or supporters clubs with this statement as I know of many, many managers who never received even expenses for their contribution of time and expertise, however it is an issue which we need to tackle.”

Friday’s Munster convention will see the appointment of several new officers, including that of former Kerry chairman Seán Walsh, who will take over as Munster chairman from Jimmy O’Gorman.