Statement from Jarlath Burns chairman of the Players' Committee

The Players' Committee of CLCG are aware of the announcement made today by the GPA regarding their version of player endorsements. On behalf of all players of the association, we would like to express our disappointment at this move, which will obviously deprive the team-mates of those involved of their entitlements as team members.

We have been working hard since our formation to ensure that in areas where players need robust and effective representation, that we can give it and are delighted with the progress we have made in this respect. We are confident in our ability to affect (sic) real change where it is needed and are indebted to those officials within CLCG who have facilitated and supported us to the end. On Saturday 29th July, I, as chairman, informed the Ard Chomhairle that we would be seeking a uniform rate of mileage throughout the country for all players at a substantial increase to that being currently paid. This was met with warm enthusiasm from the delegates and we as a committee were heartened by this response.

This is a real issue for all players, like the others on which we have made representation. We will continue to work on issues like this and will not be distracted by today's announcement. I would like to reassure those many players who feel left out by today's developments that we will continue to represent them on the mundane everyday issues which effect (sic) them.

We are not against the concept of commercial endorsement, we actively are encouraging it. Subsequent to a meeting yesterday (8th August) in Sligo between myself, D Power, Croke Park and our proposed commercial agent, we are in the process of finalising terms of reference in such a way that ALL players will benefit from the gains made by the star players in a manner which is democratic, fair to all players and is not divisive. Finally, it would appear that those who have claimed in the past that the GPA is elitist and only representative of a greedy minority, may very well have been proven right today.