GAELIC GAMES:GAA PRESIDENT Christy Cooney believes that among the many facets of the long-term agreement with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) is the potential to significantly reduce the number of intercounty players being forced to emigrate due to the recession.

Cooney was speaking in Croke Park yesterday at the publication of the agreement protocol by which the GPA is recognised, and of course funded, over the next five-years. Existing player welfare programmes include education and career guidance and Cooney said these can greatly help intercounty players, especially from rural counties, who might otherwise be forced to emigrate.

“I think it will be enormous benefit to counties and to clubs in ensuring county players do stay in the country, and aren’t forced to emigrate,” said Cooney. “There are opportunities here to help start up their own business, or get a new skill or a new job. And, of course, on an on-going basis our goal is to assist all our players.

“I think it’s a realistic agreement, a very balanced one, and will deliver very important welfare support that our players are deserving of. I also think we’ve developed a real trust, a real synergy with the GPA, and I think it will serve our association well over the next number of years.”

The agreement must still go before the next Central Council meeting on February 12th for final approval. “It’s with the counties now for full consideration, and I’m confident they will welcome what is a very comprehensive agreement. And I certainly don’t envisage any difficulty in the agreement being approved on February 12th,” Cooney said.

GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell said the agreement did not undermine the GPA’s independence, despite its base funding being provided by the GAA. “Independence has always been very important to our members,” he said, “and I’m confident there’s nothing in this agreement that will compromise that in any way.

“But there are already so many real life stories behind this agreement. Many players have been forced into unemployment, but we’ve helped them go back to college, which might have been a step too far in the past.

“Over the past year we’ve had over 700 players engaged in various welfare programmes. The plan for 2011 is to have cardiac screening for every county player, and also an enhanced injury scheme, which we know is putting enormous pressure on clubs.

“We’ve also had 16 players referred to counselling programmes. We also have a benevolent fund in place, and are expanding that the whole time to include present and past players, and increase the awareness of it.”

The GAA-GPA agreement also has a dispute resolution blueprint, which would see disputes first addressed internally, consulting with the panel and team management – but allowing for the GPA chief executive to refer the dispute to mediation or arbitration.