Am I the only one who thinks this......

The Chessplayer · 10-12-2007 03:16PM

premierstone wrote: »

i think you've hit the nail on the head here and tbh i think you'll find that unless the player is an intercounty player who will afford Dessie Farrell and co the media attention that he craves then the GPA dont give a rats ar*e about issues like this

Just reading some of the above rants lashing the GPA out of it, for not giving a "rat's arse" about the common club player etc., and then another poster being accusing me of being a fair-weather intercounty supporter. I wonder if you lads are completely missing the point of what Dessie & co have just achieved with the GPA. Some of the above arguements are totally irrelevant. An intermediate (and non-intercounty) club player does not & should not afford the same treatment as an intercounty player. The grassroots arguement being put forward is actually quite embarrassing.

Someone made the brainless point that the GAA is a democracy, unlike the FAI or IRFU - well, that's the know-nothing talk of an uninformed agitator. These organisations have a democratic structure with grassroots clubs electing representatives and voting on national issues, such as appointing the Chief Executive - how do you think John Delaney has stayed in his job so long....because he's always banging on about grassroots, and the local football clubs think his hands-on approach to the grassroots is great, hence he gets away with making a arse of the bigger decisions such as appointing a plonker like Steve Staunton. The GAA's reasons for holding onto 100% amateurism are spurious and should be treated with suspicion. I suppose you think that Nicky Brennan isn't getting a penny for his work?

Anyone who opposes what Dessie & Co have achieved should be totally ignored.

holymolyHS · 10-12-2007 03:22PM

patmac wrote: »

If he hasn't already called them I will get him to do so.

He definitely should, sure he has nothing to lose at this stage.

Would be interested to see how he does out of it too.

EoimarMuppet · 10-12-2007 03:30PM

Let me quote from the GPA's website
Facts & Figures
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
GPA Officers

President : Brian Whelehan
Chairman: Donal Óg Cusack
Secretary: Kieran McGeeney
Chief Executive: Dessie Farrell
National Executive Committee Secretary: Cathal O Torna
Acountant: Ciaran Mc Ardle

Reasons for Emergence

Players totally disenfranchised with the growing demands placed upon them at inter-county level.
Players felt aggrieved with their treatment by official units of the GAA.
Players considered it high time that player welfare be enhanced in a dramatic fashion.

Membership of 1,881.

The GPA is a union for IC players, not club players. Why should they look after a club player??!!! They are for IC players.
Interesting to see how many of you think you know better then Dessie Farrell, Kieran McGeeney, Donal Og and Brian Whelehan!!

Legends..........the lot of ye!!!

JMULL · 10-12-2007 03:52PM

Alot of county managers are said to be getting in the region of €100,000 per year. The average industrial wage is something like €34,000. Lets say the managers are put back to the average industrial wage (not bad considering they can hold down another job as well), that would leave €2,200 each for 30 players. Problem solved

The Chessplayer · 10-12-2007 06:26PM

JMULL wrote: »

Alot of county managers are said to be getting in the region of €100,000 per year. The average industrial wage is something like €34,000. Lets say the managers are put back to the average industrial wage (not bad considering they can hold down another job as well), that would leave €2,200 each for 30 players. Problem solved

That is the biggest load of cobblers I've ever heard. There were plenty of knives out looking to have a pop at Mick O'Dwyer - which resulted in the Revenue Commissioners doing a full audit of his finances...and guess what, they uncovered absolutely nothing. 100 grand a year - if you believe that you'd believe anything :rolleyes:

thirdmantackle · 10-12-2007 07:06PM

The GAA are a bunch of w@nkers, and there's a sizeable minority of gaa supporters, like myself, who can't stand these old w@ankers in "central council". At least "dictator dessie", as you call him, is not afraid to call it like it is. The type of democracy that exists in the gaa is the most inefficient embarrassing system in the known world.

many of those central council people were players themselves

they are from clubs up and down the country

they carry the mandate of counties up and down the country.

surely that counts for more than the likes of Farrell who at this stage is only interested in making money from the GAA

The type of democracy that exists in the gaa is the most inefficient embarrassing system in the known world

Ahem, FAI anyone? Voting system in the UK?

Waylander · 11-12-2007 11:16AM

The Chessplayer wrote: »

That is the biggest load of cobblers I've ever heard. There were plenty of knives out looking to have a pop at Mick O'Dwyer - which resulted in the Revenue Commissioners doing a full audit of his finances...and guess what, they uncovered absolutely nothing. 100 grand a year - if you believe that you'd believe anything :rolleyes:

Eh that just means that he declared all his income to the Revenue, it does not mean he did earn money from his management activities.

The Chessplayer · 11-12-2007 02:24PM

Waylander wrote: »

Eh that just means that he declared all his income to the Revenue, it does not mean he did earn money from his management activities.

And I suppose you think Nicky Brennan and the boys don't earn a cent? Even the stewards in croke park earn money...and the gaa will barely even give expenses to inter-county players.

Waylander · 11-12-2007 03:01PM

The Chessplayer wrote: »

And I suppose you think Nicky Brennan and the boys don't earn a cent? Even the stewards in croke park earn money...and the gaa will barely even give expenses to inter-county players.

I didnt mention Nicky Brennan or Mick O Dwyer, I merely pointed out your point on Mickos revenue audit was irrelevant to the discussion. As I previously said, I am not sure where I stand on the issues being discussed here. But now you have pretty much contradicted yourself, firstly you said that Micko earned no money, now you are saying, well lots of others own money, which sounds like an acceptance that Micko did too. Also the players do reasonably well out of the expenses paid to them as far as I am aware.

gbh · 11-12-2007 03:57PM

You wouldn't give the guy playing for the Dog and Duck every Sunday the same money as the guy playing in the Premiership, indeed you wouldn't give him any.

Those at the pinicle of the sport should be rewarded or at least compensated for their time and effort. And really that's all these grants are, compensation for lost income, personal or family life, no player is going to be able to turn professional from them.

The woman selling the lotto tickets, well where i'm from its the players who sell the lotto tickets. The guy who lines the pitch, well try watching 15 pitch-liners versus 15 pitch liners and you'd see why they shouldn't get paid...

A lot of people are making money from the GAA and the toil and efforts of the players and a lot of these people are sitting on their arses watching the games...ie, pundits, journalists, people selling snacks at matches, advertisers, as well as country board members getting expenses and slap up meals, and also Croke Park big wigs. In all that time the players have hardly got a cent...It doesn't make sense really and it's time the GAA and county boards in particular grew up about the issue.

So players should be paid in proportion their drawing power. 15 players who can fill Croke Park should get more than 15 who can't even get 9 or 10 of a crowd to watch them.

blackbelt · 12-12-2007 09:38AM

There was a good article on hoganstand by a former referee who made the point that referees are just as entitled to grants as the players.Like Waylander,I do not know exactly where I stand on the grants issue.One could say that they deserve it for their efforts and what they bring to the GAA and the major competitions.However,there is the issue of distribution,who gets what and if its moral.

Regardless of where I stand on the players getting grants,I do believe referees are entitled to this as well.Afterall,without referees and officials,the development of our games would not be sustained.Add on the pressure of what referees and in particular intercounty referees sacrifice,I think this justifies it.

The ref in the article concerned told of how he'd be on the road refereeing intercounty matches while his son who studied away from home would come home at weekends and the father and son wouldn't see each other some weekends.Refs and officials at the top level can sacrifice just as much as IC players.Thats something the GAA should be aware of.

squire1 · 12-12-2007 12:24PM

That is a very good point Blackbelt, but do refs not get paid/reimbursed expenses for games?

LiamWalkinstown seems to have got the boot for some reason, back to hoganstand with him, legend that he is.

patmac · 12-12-2007 12:33PM

Your not the only one Blackbelt that doesn't know where they stand on the issue. For instance Croke Park needs 30,000 to break even why? This figure always intrigued me as at €20 a head that's €600,000. Now as all the bars and food halls are franchised why does it cost so much, where does that money go, if it is stewards etc they must be highly paid so why not the players?

aughayes · 12-12-2007 03:43PM

Everyone on this thread seems to be talking about the politics of the matter, lets not lose sight of the fact that the commitment these players give is as good, if not better, than many professional athletes. Some of the costs involved in this are crippling to players on low salaries as it is, so i think they are deserving of any money coming their way.

An Citeog · 12-12-2007 03:59PM

aughayes wrote: »

Everyone on this thread seems to be talking about the politics of the matter, lets not lose sight of the fact that the commitment these players give is as good, if not better, than many professional athletes. Some of the costs involved in this are crippling to players on low salaries as it is, so i think they are deserving of any money coming their way.

You should also take into account the benefits that IC players actually receive and I'm not just talking about the chance to play in Croke Park. I don't begrudge the players their grants or any financial aid. What I do object to though, is trying to hold the GAA to ransom by threatening to strike and some of the other nonsense comments in here. The GAA is about far more than the small minority who play at intercounty level and that's where the lifeblood of the game really is. People making comments like Dessie Farrell should be running the GAA really don't seem to grasp this and it saddens me to see.

And I don't want to even get started about intracounty transfers!

enda_4 · 13-12-2007 03:47AM

It seems this whole issue is being forced along by certain people. I for one dont begrudge any of those fellas. I know a few fellas on county panels and the amount of time they have to give up is unreal yet having talking to them about these grants a majority of them are of the opinion 'yeah they'd be a great help' but none of them are throwing their toys out of the pram sayin 'I'm not playing unless I'm gettin paid!' It seems to me that there is a few fellas behind the scenes who stand to make far more money than your average county player from these grants and their increasing grip over the GAA.

Just my 2 cents

An Citeog · 14-12-2007 01:18PM

McAnallen quits in protest over player grants

By Cliona Foley
Friday December 14 2007

ANOTHER well-known GAA figure has resigned his position in part-protest at the recent GAA grant scheme.

Donal McAnallen, brother of the late Tyrone Allstar Cormac, resigned as secretary of the Higher Education Colleges GAA Council yesterday and admitted his decision was influenced by the recent agreement to give players grants.

McAnallen, who also resigned from the GAA's national McNamee Press and PR Awards Committee, said his reasons were both practical and from a sense of disillusionment.

"I have no income at present and I'm in debt. My dedication to GAA committee work has cost me too much time, effort, stress, and my health at times also," McAnallen stated.

"Up to now I kept involved because I got a sense of fulfilment from doing that work, as I thought the association served a greater good in Irish life, and I thought everyone was working towards the same ends. But since the weekend, I realised that the association is changing direction altogether.

"Suddenly I knew I had lost interest in doing the voluntary work if the sport ceases to be for sport's sake.

"Many GAA volunteers, including some of my fellow committee members, have made similar sacrifices. Now I wonder whether it was all worthwhile.

"At least I can concentrate on other things from here on," he said.

McAnallen has been a vital member of the third-level committee for many years, serving as both its secretary and treasurer. He helped redraft its rules to try to stamp out ineligibility, and was also central in securing Ulster Bank sponsorship until 2011.

His resignation comes not long after one of the founders of 'Club Tyrone' Mark Conway, stood down from that fundraising body, and the GAA National Audit Committee, in protest at the grant development.

McAnallen, who played with the TG4's Underdogs football team, has been to the forefront in his family's tireless campaign to get the GAA to introduce mandatory cardiac testing.

Elsewhere, Galway dual star Alan Kerins has landed a €15,000 mortgage windfall in recognition of his on and off the field actitivies.

The contribution to his mortgage is Kerins' prize for winning the inaugural GPA/Halifax 'Fair Play Award' for his Allstar-nominated performances for the Galway hurlers this year, as well as single-handedly founding the inspirational 'Alan Kerins African Projects' charity which has raised over €750,000 since being established in 2005.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/mcanallen-quits-in-protest-over-player-grants-1246361.html

The Chessplayer · 14-12-2007 03:21PM

enda_4 wrote: »

It seems this whole issue is being forced along by certain people. I for one dont begrudge any of those fellas. I know a few fellas on county panels and the amount of time they have to give up is unreal yet having talking to them about these grants a majority of them are of the opinion 'yeah they'd be a great help' but none of them are throwing their toys out of the pram sayin 'I'm not playing unless I'm gettin paid!' It seems to me that there is a few fellas behind the scenes who stand to make far more money than your average county player from these grants and their increasing grip over the GAA.

Just my 2 cents

Bang on Enda! That is exactly what this is all about. Some of these lads protesting with their spurious reasons as to why these grants shouldn't be introduced need to take a reality check.

The Chessplayer · 14-12-2007 03:26PM

An Citeog wrote: »

You should also take into account the benefits that IC players actually receive and I'm not just talking about the chance to play in Croke Park. I don't begrudge the players their grants or any financial aid. What I do object to though, is trying to hold the GAA to ransom by threatening to strike and some of the other nonsense comments in here. The GAA is about far more than the small minority who play at intercounty level and that's where the lifeblood of the game really is. People making comments like Dessie Farrell should be running the GAA really don't seem to grasp this and it saddens me to see.

And I don't want to even get started about intracounty transfers!

This is cloud cuckoo stuff. They are not just holding the GAA to ransom, as you call it, for any old selfish reason. The GAA don't treat the IC players with the respect they deserve. Sure they barely even recognise the GPA.

When I said about Dessie Farrell running the GAA - I didn't mean it literally. I meant that he is a man of action instead of codgers like Nicky Brennan, Sean Kelly etc.

And why do you keep banging on about "the lifeblood of the game" being clubs rather than inter-county. You're missing the point! IC is the pinnacle of the GAA, and IC players deserve serious recognition.

Am I the only one who thinks this......

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