GPA CEO DESSIE Farrell has hailed their new €6.2 million per year agreement with the GAA as ‘a good day for players’ and that the deal ‘elevates’ the status of inter county hurlers and footballers.
The arrangement means that the GAA will now be giving 11% of their total revenues – which were €55.7 million in 2015 – towards player welfare and expenses.
“I think it’s a good day for players, without doubt,” remarked Farrell at yesterday’s official announcement at Croke Park.
“It elevates the players’ status to a new level. There’s a lot of practical support contained within this and I think it’s very important is the input into policy decisions that affect players, that will be widely welcomed.
“The GAA’s commercial success will be linked to our programmes, a significant step forward and a milestone (for us).”
Farrell agrees that it emphasises the increased trust between the parties.
“I think it reflects the ongoing relationship that has been in place for the last number of years which has given us a platform to build a partnership.
“Ultimately it’s a win-win for everybody we feel. The first time around it was all very new to everybody. There’s no doubt that as a players’ association we needed to prove our bone fides in a whole host of different areas.
“I think over the five years we’ve done that, I think what we have in place now is a productive working relationship. We’ve matured as an organisation and I think the GAA have been able to reflect on that in a very positive manner through this agreement.”
GPA chairman Seamus Hickey was pleased with the initiative that will see €200,000 set aside each year to deal specifically with surgical interventions for former inter county players.
“It’s a significant principle of the agreement again that the GAA is willing to take a look at the impact of careers on players. It’s a huge win for a number of guys, it’s about medical research and the increase in research in the area of the GAA, you’ll see the impact of this in years to come.”
The Limerick hurler also explained the studies that had resulted in a new refundable & vouched nutrition expense (to the amount of €1.2 million) being introduced.
“Myself, Paul (Flynn) and Richie (Hogan) looked at this. This is a wide-ranging and relatively new aspect of the game, especially since I was first involved in 2006.
“It is an element of preparation that we never had to engage with before and I suppose when you are asking did we cost it and did research on it.
“What we did was a number of case studies with a number of players but, and I suppose the GAA will acknowledge this, this is a contribution to it, not necessarily a complete reimbursement of it, and that is important to state.
“The further you go on in the championship, the more you will avail of it. When you are out of the championship, your entitlement to the nutritional allowance stops.”
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