Players' committee gets the GPA boot

The Gaelic Players' Association will not be forging any closer ties with Croke Park. That was the key policy decision of Saturday's a.g.m. in the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, which was attended by 97 delegates. Seán Moran reports.

It means that the GPA will not co-operate in any re-structuring of the GAA's official Players' Committee, which will present incoming GAA president Seán Kelly with a problem when he has to select his own committee over the coming months.

"Everyone knows who represents the players," according to chief executive Dessie Farrell at a media conference after the meeting.

"There's not a need for the Players' Committee. It will be farcical if GPA players won't participate in any election. Who does that committee represent?"

On the subject of players' commercial interests the meeting passed a motion that GPA members would "soley co-operate with an agency or agencies approved by the National Executive Committee". This comes in the wake of Croke Park's arrangement with Murray Consultants coming to an end and certain exploratory talks between the GAA and GPA in relation to the matter.

"The players were unanimous that they want to remain independent," said chief executive Dessie Farrell, which was held in camera.

"We asked the question a couple of times. The majority were in favour so we felt that some delegates with other opinions might be afraid to put up their hands so we made sure.

"We don't envisage a situation where players will be members of both the GPA and the Players' Committee," said Farrell, ruling out the dual status availed of by DJ Carey - who has succeeded Clare hurler James O'Connor as president of the GPA - over the past three years.

The precise formulation of that policy has yet to be finalised, as the debate was general and not guided by any formal motion.

"It was decided that the GPA would remain independent and autonomous. There was an olive branch for Croke Park in that we would be willing to take a seat on Central Council but the GPA will not participate in any elections to nominate a new (Players') Committee."

Donal O'Neill, the marketing consultant who helped establish the GPA, spoke about his discussions with Croke Park about the future of the agency business.

"Players will deal with agents approved by the executive. Croke Park hasn't represented the players adequately. We have more expertise in the area as well as the support of the players. But any discussion on our taking on the agency work would depend on Croke Park acknowledging that the GPA holds the legal rights to the image of the players."

He did add that the GPA were willing to negotiate "on reasonable terms".

GPA members assigned their image rights to the association at the previous a.g.m. in November 2001. Within the past year the GPA has successfully pursued a number of businesses in respect of those rights.

On the issue of expenses and the proposed €127 flat rate per week, Farrell said that "the ball was in Croke Park's court" and they were awaiting the findings of a committee looking into the subject. A meeting scheduled for last week was called off by the GAA.

Saturday's a.g.m. was addressed by Cork hurler Donal Cusack who made what was by all accounts a stirring presentation on his team mates' successful strike before Christmas. Farrell also had a meeting with representatives of the weaker hurling counties, some of whose conditions and treatment he said, "would disgust you".

The GPA will shortly have its own office in Drumcondra, Dublin and hopes to recruit an additional staff member in the near future.