Limits to the number of players on a county panel who can claim expenses, plus a cap on the number of expensed training sessions per week have been bones of contention for the GAA and GPA in recent months.
While nothing has happened in terms of concrete decisions of late, progress appears to have been made today (Thursday) following a meeting of both parties to try and resolve the issue.
The row rumbled on across the league-leading to a boycott of post-match interviews (radio, television, newspaper) and other events of a commercial nature.
A joint statement issued this evening seems to indicate that some kind of resolution may be in the offing.
“The GAA and the players’ representative body, the GPA, met this morning to discuss the ongoing dispute regarding player expenses.”
“The meeting was productive and a framework was put in place to try and reach a resolution. “
“Both parties will re-engage under the terms of that framework over the course of the coming weeks.”
When are where those weeks are will be of interest to some given championship hurling starts this weekend with football set to follow next weekend.
In an open letter published last week, Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan, also a GPA national executive committee member, outlined his case.
“We’re not looking for more expenses. We’re looking for a return to what was in place pre-Covid as had been agreed in writing with the GAA hierarchy. And more importantly, agreed in good faith with the 2500 players.”
“However, the GAA hierarchy wanted to base the charter on the cost-saving measures accepted by players during the pandemic, not on the 2016-2018 charter as the agreed baseline.”
“The GAA’s position is that it will centrally pay for 4 sessions and anything in excess of that will be negotiated locally. So it is OK to have any amount of sessions scheduled as long as the GAA HQ does not pay.”
“This does not promote “good player welfare practice”.”
