The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) have announced the establishment of an official players' fund for the 67 intercounty hurling and football squads. It envisages raising €400,000 over the next 12 months from sales of the club energise soft drink.

County boards will be invited to participate in the initiative but as yet GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell has had no response from the GAA regarding their ongoing player welfare issues.

These include image rights, the lack of player representation at any level in the GAA and banning of all club energise drinks in grounds and clubs across the country.

Michael McArdle, marketing director of C&C Ireland limited, also stated the GAA's lack of support regarding the initiative.

"At every twist and turn we have been thwarted but I really don't want to get into that today," he said.

The new scheme hopes to financially assist squads directly with two players in each county being nominated to manage the fund. Fifteen GPA members will be involved in television advertising, 25 in public relations and 30 more scholarships are expected to go with the 42 already handed out since the GPA and club energise deal came into effect in August 2003.

Farrell was adamant that whether county boards are involved they will still be expected to continue the funding already in place for county panels: "County boards will still be obliged to uphold their funding. This is a top-up or the icing on the cake. We are not sure how much will be available to each squad yet. That will all be sorted out at next month's agm with the first payment into accounts to come before the end of the year."

Waterford hurler John Mullane was just one of the GPA members present for the announcement in Dublin and he was adamant that the benefits will spread across the board to partially fund team holidays and training weekends.

"Some county boards don't give out much so we are just grateful that this is coming about. For counties that don't have success throughout the year they still deserve something at the end. This coming in should reap reward for them as well.

"We have a tight budget down in Waterford. For a county like Waterford it would be a great thing to reap the benefit. The Kilkennys and Corks have got their county boards behind them but from our own point of view stuff like this will be great."

The extra panels that make up the 67 intercounty squads are the hurlers and footballers of London and New York.