Gaelic players announce media ban

[bingobus]

Heard Peter Canavan talking on Today FM about this yesterday, he was banging the GPA drum and wheeled out the recession and unemployed players line.

Thought his arguments where very weak and contradictatory. He made the case of the 10 players unemployed players on the Donegal panel who could be spending 20/30 a week with the county panel and it been the case where their wife/partner will question why they spend so much time with the county panel when the should be looking for work.

He said that this grant was invaluable now to players and then later talked that it was a pittance, only a token gesture that the GAA should now pick up.

I get the sense that the GPA are going to straight for the neck on this one. Was Dessie not quoted previously that they wouldn't expect the GAA to foot the bill for this?

[ONeill]

Thought his arguments where very weak and contradictatory. He made the case of the 10 players unemployed players on the Donegal panel who could be spending 20/30 a week with the county panel and it been the case where their wife/partner will question why they spend so much time with the county panel when the should be looking for work.

They'd need to get their priorities in order then.

[full back]

It looks like Dessie has sent out the foot soldiers
Cavanagh, then this, I would say in the next few weeks there will be more bleating coming for the pro-GPA camp

[rrhf]

And to think the GPA line was that it was only a govn grant and would not hold the GAA liable for its demise.  I dont mind the cheerleaders of the players coming on and defending the grants debacle,  they are mercenaries - its what they do so fair enough, but we had decent GAA guys who were duped into thinking the grants maybe wasnt such a terrible idea.  Ill not name names but those guys today stand accused of being weakminded, weakforesighted and weak principled - Its they who I feel sorry for.   Id love to know is that teh cost of the office of president ie travel 300 for say 300 days in 3 years / hotel accomodation and meals iin most of them or is it an actual taxable salary grant which is plus expenses.  As we continue this arguements isnt Dessie earning his salary too. 

[cornafean]

As we continue this arguements isnt Dessie earning his salary too. 

He's not the only one making serious money from the GPA. There are others and they're not even intercounty players.

[lynchbhoy]

Heard Peter Canavan talking on Today FM about this yesterday, he was banging the GPA drum and wheeled out the recession and unemployed players line.

Thought his arguments where very weak and contradictatory. He made the case of the 10 players unemployed players on the Donegal panel who could be spending 20/30 a week with the county panel and it been the case where their wife/partner will question why they spend so much time with the county panel when the should be looking for work.

He said that this grant was invaluable now to players and then later talked that it was a pittance, only a token gesture that the GAA should now pick up.

I get the sense that the GPA are going to straight for the neck on this one. Was Dessie not quoted previously that they wouldn't expect the GAA to foot the bill for this?

As Oneill has said - they need to get their priorities right.
You dont spend all day looking for work either. I'd also expect that county training etc is still performed in the evening time so I dont see how it interferes with players looking for work.
Players have the easy choice to make. If they have to go elsewhere to look for work - then they go.
I think it was Anthony cunningham of Crossmaglen that coul dhave played for Armagh but chose not to due to work/family responsibilities.
Thats life.
Thats why it is an amateur game.
there is not enough money to pay for Football/Hurling ot be pro or even semi-pro.
You cant just pick and choose pro/semi-pro players and leave the majority not getting paid. Who would these pro/semi-pro players actually play against (or with !)
the gpa are losing the run of thmselves.
While I would like the player welfare (for inj/disabillity etc) continue to increase, I dont know if there is a player unemployment benefit fund.
IMO the GPA (or indeed GAA) should be investing in this (paying lads who were prev self employed and now not working and not eligible fo the dole) and keeping players, families, club teams, communities etc afloat.

Thats a big IF this money could be afforded.
It would certainly be more worthwhile than paying the elite what they 'think' they are entitled to!

[ONeill]

And to think the GPA line was that it was only a govn grant and would not hold the GAA liable for its demise.  I dont mind the cheerleaders of the players coming on and defending the grants debacle,  they are mercenaries - its what they do so fair enough, but we had decent GAA guys who were duped into thinking the grants maybe wasnt such a terrible idea.  Ill not name names but those guys today stand accused of being weakminded, weakforesighted and weak principled - Its they who I feel sorry for.   Id love to know is that teh cost of the office of president ie travel 300 for say 300 days in 3 years / hotel accomodation and meals iin most of them or is it an actual taxable salary grant which is plus expenses.  As we continue this arguements isnt Dessie earning his salary too. 

Without going over old wearied ground - the grants are a palatable idea. It's in line with most sporting grants in the country. The same people who thought the sky was falling this time last year or that their love of the game had changed utterly were there in Croker a few months later cheering on the same players without the idea of a grant passing through them for even a split second. But that's old news and we've moved on.

However, the GPA PR has been disastrous this last week. Cavanagh and Canavan's comments are doing a great disservice to what had been achieved, or as accepted as the norm by the easily excited, in the last 12 months. I understand the need to fight for equality or to identify any inequalities and if other sporting bodies were not having their similar funding cut, then there'd be a case. Or if the GAA were seen to be lining the pockets of the white collars whilst the players were being affected by the economy, then there'd be a case to investigate.

But to go down the line of unemployment/breadline is a PR disaster and will garner absolutely zilch sympathy. Poor advice being dished out here to the talking heads.

[behind the wire]

cavanagh and canavan are both legends in the modern game but their comments in recent times are doing them little good.

the purpose of the GAA is to PROVIDE AND PROMTE GAELIC GAMES and in my opinion they do this fairly well. nowhere in the gaa aims does it mention helping players find employment nor should it. in fact i would say that the gaa has provided an invaluable source of entertainment throughout the countries troubled economic history.

if players cannot give of their time to play football because they need to be working extra hours or looking for work that is fair enough. antrim's sean mcveigh is a prime example, after playing throughout the league he has gone to the usa in search of work and so missing a run to the ulster final.

players out of work/emigrating is sad but we must remember that it is happening throughout the country and in no way should anyone say the GAA is obliged to help out.

[bingobus]

Thought his arguments where very weak and contradictatory. He made the case of the 10 players unemployed players on the Donegal panel who could be spending 20/30 a week with the county panel and it been the case where their wife/partner will question why they spend so much time with the county panel when the should be looking for work.

They'd need to get their priorities in order then.

Have you seen the cost of divorce lawyers these days    

[bingobus]

We can dismiss this as bad PR but funny enough the texts coming in where very mixed with many stating that the GAA should be looking after the players and paying grants etc. A few did comment it was the choice but the danger here is that those on the fringes of the GAA, who attend matches etc but go home after it will see the money going into the GAA and feel that the players should be getting a cut. That is who will vocally support the GPA, who will be after this mob mentality.

Canavan also wheeled out the young players going to OZ to play and that the grants/gaa should look at some way of keeping them.

Cooper said that the GAA ameteur ethos would be at risk with such payments and Canavan came back with the student scholarships that the GAA pay out already and said that could these not be viewed as payments to amateur. Thought that was poor form.

[full back]

The GPA & their foot soldiers will use any method & say anything to get what they want.
They really need the backing of the average GAA member & will do what it takes to get this.

The majority of posters on here would have more interest than the average supporter & can usually see through the bullsh1t, but be prepared for more interviews in the coming weeks when the gloves will really come off

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Heard Peter Canavan talking on Today FM about this yesterday, he was banging the GPA drum and wheeled out the recession and unemployed players line.

Thought his arguments where very weak and contradictatory. He made the case of the 10 players unemployed players on the Donegal panel who could be spending 20/30 a week with the county panel and it been the case where their wife/partner will question why they spend so much time with the county panel when the should be looking for work.

He said that this grant was invaluable now to players and then later talked that it was a pittance, only a token gesture that the GAA should now pick up.

I get the sense that the GPA are going to straight for the neck on this one. Was Dessie not quoted previously that they wouldn't expect the GAA to foot the bill for this?

Unfortunately the media ban doesn't extend to Today FM

[bingobus]

The GPA & their foot soldiers will use any method & say anything to get what they want.
They really need the backing of the average GAA member & will do what it takes to get this.

The majority of posters on here would have more interest than the average supporter & can usually see through the bullsh1t, but be prepared for more interviews in the coming weeks when the gloves will really come off

Thats the problem, it'll be the same as the Cork strike. GPA dominate the media and we'll be left with nothing from the GAA.

They need to call the GPA out on this. Has a union in any workplace ever downed tools to look for a % of the companys turnover?

Peter was also introduced as a GPA member. Is not only open to current County players?

[A Quinn Martin Production]

GPA has three types of membership

Current Inter County Player

Former Inter County Player

Associate

In other words it's open to absolutely anyone with €50 (associate fee)

[cornafean]

My reading of the current state of the GPA/GAA "dispute" is as follows:

1. The dogs in the street know that government funding for sport (including the GPA grants) will be slashed mercilessly in the coming months. This is especially topical just now as the report on cutbacks from An Bord Snip Nua is due for release this week. According to yesterday's Irish Indo, it is not outside the bounds of possibility that Minister Cullen's Department will be abolished entirely.

2. When (not if) government sports funding is slashed, then this will negatively affect the GAA at all levels. Christy Cooney et al know this as do Dessie Farrell, Donal O'Neill and the other leaders of the GPA.

3. Both sides also know that, in a few months time, any claim by the GPA for a share of GAA money will look both greedy and stupid. The GAA leaders are keen to slow down the debate until after the impending bombshell hits, at which time they will be able to summarily dismiss the GPA's claims using the (not unreasonable) excuse that "we can't afford it". For their part, the GPA are aware that they must act urgently otherwise their opportunity will pass. Hence their current militancy.