A new Club Players Association is set to be launched in order to give club players a voice amidst growing unrest among club players all over Ireland.
The issue of player welfare raised its head in Donegal again this weekend following Burt’s historic Intermediate championship win on Saturday.
Burt were forced to play their first-round clash in the Ulster IFC on Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after landing the Donegal Intermediate crown after earning an extra-time win against Milford.
That sparked massive anger and dismay amongst the GAA fraternity not only in Donegal, but also nationally, but unfortunately this type of incident is not an isolated incident.
Now, the time for talking has stopped, as it seems nobody is listening to GAA club players.
Club players believe the only way they can improve the club situation is to set up their own organisation, and it seems the CPA (Club Players Association) will be launched in the next three weeks.
Former Monaghan selector Declan Brennan – who managed Clontibret to four county SFC successes – is one of the driving forces behind the new body and says he is acting out of concern for the welfare of club players.
The aim of the new body is to give a voice to club players in the same way that the GPA represents the interests of county footballers and hurlers.
“I think what most players – and remember intercounty players are club players too – want is a proper closed season where they can get the proper rest and plan their lives better,” he tells The Irish Independent.
“There’s no doubt, players want to see the intercounty season condensed. I don’t have a mandate to speak on anyone’s behalf and I’m just trying to get this up and running.
“But it will happen. We’re not looking for something like the Gaelic Players Association. We’re not looking for money from the GAA. We’re not trying to build anything for the future. The GPA has done great work but has become immersed in the GAA now.
“We just want to pull people together, gather views and make those views strongly known. It’s not a long-term thing. Something has to happen within months.”
