Football

GPA's Paul Flynn would have no problem with club player group

Dublin's Paul Flynn is secretary of the Gaelic Players' Association 
Dublin's Paul Flynn is secretary of the Gaelic Players' Association  Dublin's Paul Flynn is secretary of the Gaelic Players' Association 

PAUL FLYNN, the secretary of the Gaelic Players Association, has revealed he would have no problem with a separate organisation being set up to cater for club players specifically.

The GAA is coming under increasing pressure to address the lack of a defined fixture schedule for club players, with local championships regularly being put on hold for months at a time to accommodate inter-county activity.

The GPA represents inter-county players only and Conor Deegan, the two-time All-Ireland medalist with Down, revealed earlier this year that he is considering setting up a group to act on behalf of club players, who make up 98 per cent of the GAA's playing population. Deegan claimed club players are being "driven into the ground" and are getting a "raw deal" from GAA administrators who, he suggested, are more interested in promoting the flagship inter-county game.

Flynn, the decorated Dublin footballer who is chasing back-to-back All-Ireland successes, said he can understand why club players are frustrated and agreed the establishment of a body to give them a voice could be worthwhile.

"I don't see why it would do any harm," Flynn said.

"I don't really know what it would look like, to be honest. It would probably be more of a lobbying [group] to the GAA. Even just thinking there when you say it, it would be pressing the GAA about the [Championship] structure, that would be the key thing that they'd want progress on.

"It's such a tough one for the club players. If you, for instance, take an inter-county player who has to be flexible with their work because of their commitments, that can't work for club players as easily. So we have to have a structure in place that facilitates club players to be able to train during the week and have good games at the weekend and on a constant basis.

"I don't know what that looks like and that's the problem. It's just about trying to find something that fits all and I suppose it's hard to get something passed also when you need to get 66 per cent of the vote at congress to go your way."