GAA and GPA submit funding plan

GAELIC GAMES:The GAA and the Gaelic Players Association have submitted a joint proposal to the Government for €5 million in funding to be distributed annually among senior intercounty players.  Gavin Cummiskeyreports

The initiative is similar to the GPA's initial three-tier player welfare plan but will be distributed by the GAA on an expenses-incurred basis.

All senior intercounty players will be entitled to a maximum of €90 a week throughout the entire season. The onus will be placed on the individual to seek reimbursement but the GPA are to provide extensive information to assist the process.

Players from the most successful county panels can expect to receive approximately €3,500 per annum in expenses, while those on the lower grade panels can expect in excess of the €1,000 originally earmarked for them under the GPA plan.

"We have broken it down into a weekly expense rate," explained GPA founder and commercial manager Donal O'Neill. "We have looked how far various teams go in the championship. We looked at championship structures to see when teams would go out. We have a comprehensive list of expenses players will be in possession of and a set of directions. It's an exhaustive list of everything from mileage to specialist foods to washing powder to DVDs of other teams. Everything an intercounty player might encounter in the modern game. The plan is to the last euro."

In regards a timeline of when this system might come into place, a GPA statement added: "Both the GPA and the GAA anticipate, given the assurances afforded by Minister (John) O'Donoghue and An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, that the joint proposal will now be rubberstamped in time for the current season."

Yesterday's announcement is a milestone occasion for the association and players' body that was formed in 1999. "We have been on the road for four or five years with this particular initiative," said O'Neill. "It's something we have prioritised for a very long time so naturally we are pleased, in the first instance anyway, to get it over the line with the GAA."

GAA president Nickey Brennan adopted a more cautious approach regarding the joint agreement, refusing to elaborate until receiving a response from the Minister. "The document that has gone before the Government relates to Government funding. It's not the GAA who are coming forward with this funding. We are happy it meets those needs. And the whole notion of pay for players has not been on the agenda and will not be on the agenda."

Could the recent disagreement with Minister O'Donoghue over the new Tallaght stadium potentially hinder the allocation of funds for player welfare? "Not at all," said Brennan. "Life goes on. We're not going to agree on everything all of the time and the same applies in this particular case. The fact that we had a difference in opinion doesn't mean we cannot work together. The Minister has been a supporter of many GAA initiatives and we are very grateful to him for that and I know he will be supportive of many more in the future."

The GAA and GPA were confident a change in Government or Minister after the upcoming general election would not hinder the release of the €5 million.

"The other parties sanctioned it and agreed to it but it was narrowly defeated in a Dáil debate so they are on the record in support of the initiative," continued O'Neill. "We don't think there will be any problems if there was a change in Government."

So, accepting the release of funds as a mere "rubberstamping" process, the Government will make additional funds available through infrastructural grants. "An additional €5 million will come through that channel that will free up funds for the GAA to issue five million to player welfare."

The announcement appears to have put an official mechanism in place to safeguard player concerns over welfare.

Donegal forward Brendan Devenney seemed to catch the mood of the majority of intercounty players when he said: "GAA players aren't looking for anything. There is a massive money-making machine around the GAA in the summer and the players are one of the main reasons for that. Something had to give.

"I speak to soccer players who say you play in front of 80,000 at Croke Park and you don't get paid and all that. But it's not that simple. Before the backdoor system came we used to be out in one game so we weren't generating much. And then the National League gates weren't that high. Now the gates are coming up and championship games are growing steady. I know they dropped off a wee bit last year but that was after seven years of massive growth so I think it is only now that this is coming to the fore. I don't think anybody is looking for anything. They just want a bit of respect.

"We all have bills to pay and what have you. With gate receipts, advertising and TV rights there is so much happening around Gaelic footballers. It just helps your life a bit. It's a bit awkward for footballers to talk about it as they can be accused of asking for this and that. That's why it's best that (GPA chief executive) Dessie Farrell represents the players."

The agreement concludes the first phase in a lengthy negotiation process between the GAA and GPA, with Brennan stating the next round of discussions can focus on official recognition of the players' body. "There is no secret there were three strands in it. One was grants, one was recognition and one was the commercial side so we will move forward towards the recognition side after congress to see can we move that matter along."