THE Club Players’ Association (CPA) wants to see the establishment of a “think tank” after calling on GAA director general Paraic Duffy to park his Championship proposals.
In a statement released on the same day as Paraic Duffy is set to publish his annual report at Croke Park, the CPA said it “cannot support” the Monaghan man’s proposals and suggested they are put on hold “pending proper consultation”.
And the players’ body has now claimed that Duffy’s reforms“do not fully take on board the need for an agreed fixtures programme for club players”.
The CPA say a think tank would call upon expertise within the GAA “and if necessary take evidence from other sports”.
“Their remit will be to report back within a fixed timeframe with a programme and principles that create uniformity and help county boards who are, unfairly, often in the firing line,” said CPA chairman Michael Briody.
“Their findings will outline the way forward to make our Association fit for purpose and serve the GAA for the next stage of its evolution and the challenges we all face.
“We must remember the articles of our Association when first established by [Michael] Cusack, [Maurice] Davin and the founding fathers.
“Davin spoke first about the plan to start a new organisation for sport. He described how many Irish games were losing popularity and dying out in some cases in the countryside and appealed for a revival.
“The Gaelic Athletic Association for the Preservation and Cultivation of National Pastimes was chosen as the official name but it soon became known familiarly by the shortened title of the GAA.
“It is time again to preserve and cultivate our games for all our members.”
In a statement, the CPA also called upon county boards across the country to officially recognise the body at GAA Congress on February 24/25.
“We are at the stage as an Association where we need to consider what's right for all our members, not who's right.
“Given the nature of Congress we believe it is important that the motion proposed by Wexford and Tipperary County Boards is heard at Congress and given due consideration without the possibility of procedural interference or impairment.
“We are writing to county boards this week inviting their mandated support to achieve the necessary support. The CPA is committed to working with and supporting county boards.
“Agreement on fixtures will make their work easier.”
