Kelly eager to keep lines of communication open

GAA president Seán Kelly hopes to be in a position to revive the idea of a Players' Committee in the near future, writes Seán Moran.

This was one committee he didn't appoint on taking up office last month because of opposition from the unofficial players' union the GPA, which at its a.g.m. earlier this year called on members not to take part in any such committee.

"I've had a meeting with Dessie Farrell (GPA chief executive) in the past few days. I'm in the process of finalising a policy list of things I'd like to achieve. I envisage an elected panel of inter-county players and an appointed one for club players. We have agreed to meet again and touched on a number of issues. Certain things we agreed on and certain things we didn't. But we both want to keep lines of communication open."

Kelly said that he didn't believe the GPA position on the GAA's proposed inter-county committee was irreversible. "That decision was taken back in January and I didn't come into office until April. In fairness I would like to give the players a fresh opportunity to consider the situation. I'd like to see current inter-county players elected by current inter-county players."

He also alluded to the latest developments in the proposals of the amateur status committee appointed before Christmas. This proposes inter alia raising mileage rates for players but has yet to implemented. "It's time to move on the Amateur Status report," he said. "I want to meet those involved in drawing it up and get things moving. Some things aren't finalised yet. This is an amateur organisation and there are limits to what we can do but the intention is to address the question of player welfare."

Finally he said that he shared concerns about the poor attendances at some of the weekend's matches. Limerick's great breakthrough win over Cork was watched by little more than 6,000 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The situation in Croke Park has been widely remarked on with fewer than 18,000 turning up for three Leinster Championship matches despite 11,000 complimentary tickets for juveniles being handed out.

"I was somewhat disappointed," according to Kelly. "Clones had a good crowd even though no one was expecting what happened. We were probably expecting more in Cork. Opening Croke Park for only 17,000 or 18,000 when it takes 30,000 to make ends meet can't go on either."

The sums in relation to the new stadium are that roughly 32,000 people at €20 a head are needed to cover the costs of opening the venue. "We'll have to look at that because we need finance to keep the association going. Croke Park is a major asset and should be generating money, not costing it."