Well, the weekend events at congress show that the GPA officials well and truly inside the tent. The proposals were out there for 6 months. This was enough time for the CPA to be formed, elect a committee, put forward their agenda and their position against the super 8
In the meantime, the GPA did.........very little. Held a survey of their players (which should take a week max) and then, just before congress - when they knew it was too late to make any difference - they made a token gesture , half hearted argument against.
They didn't contact any County Boards or clubs for support (as far as I'm aware). The money has taken over - after all they got 6m in funding from Central council and, the super 8 will ensure this continues and probably increases as the super 8 generates additional revenue
If 75% of the players (significantly more that the GAA official 2/3 majority required) voted against it and their position was not argued strongly enough, then there should be a vote of confidence in the GPA board. There should also be a consultation with the players to decide how they will respond
The GPA should have stayed outside the tent and should be voluntary
Their approach to the whole thing has been disgraceful to its members and reinforces the CPA position of being totally voluntary and staying outside the tent. As of now, there is NO players voice in the GAA -either GPA (as evident last weekend) or the CPA - not officially recognized. Pauric Daly appears to be a decent enough man but his comments about 'not running the GAA by twitter' in relation to the super 8 were disingenuous - the reason it is being debated on twitter is because there is no official players forum. So twitter is a symptom of a wider and growing unrest as it is the only avenue open to players to express their frustration.
Replying To LKGael: "Well, the weekend events at congress show that the GPA officials well and truly inside the tent. The proposals were out there for 6 months. This was enough time for the CPA to be formed, elect a committee, put forward their agenda and their position against the super 8
In the meantime, the GPA did.........very little. Held a survey of their players (which should take a week max) and then, just before congress - when they knew it was too late to make any difference - they made a token gesture , half hearted argument against.
They didn't contact any County Boards or clubs for support (as far as I'm aware). The money has taken over - after all they got 6m in funding from Central council and, the super 8 will ensure this continues and probably increases as the super 8 generates additional revenue
If 75% of the players (significantly more that the GAA official 2/3 majority required) voted against it and their position was not argued strongly enough, then there should be a vote of confidence in the GPA board. There should also be a consultation with the players to decide how they will respond
The GPA should have stayed outside the tent and should be voluntary
Their approach to the whole thing has been disgraceful to its members and reinforces the CPA position of being totally voluntary and staying outside the tent. As of now, there is NO players voice in the GAA -either GPA (as evident last weekend) or the CPA - not officially recognized. Pauric Daly appears to be a decent enough man but his comments about 'not running the GAA by twitter' in relation to the super 8 were disingenuous - the reason it is being debated on twitter is because there is no official players forum. So twitter is a symptom of a wider and growing unrest as it is the only avenue open to players to express their frustration."
Everyone seems to know what they are against but nobody knows exactly what they are in favour of.
- D. Early is in the paper complaining about what this does for clubs and weaker counties but their proposal last year would have added a heap of games, and surely that would always favour stronger counties and done little for clubs. Their proposal was so radical that it never stood a chance of passing. They need to be realistic in terms of what can be achieved
- Weaker counties complaining that this does nothing for them are right. But they shoot down every proposal that is ever put out to try and give them more games complaining about segregation. But how many games can you give counties and still have them all in the same competition? Those games become meaningless after a while.
- People saying this does not help clubs at all, of course it helps clubs. Nearly all club championships are now played in Aug / Sept/ Oct when counties are knocked out. This change frees up those months far more, and for more counties. County boards can now plan for their championships at that time of year and play away at league games from March thru summer ensuring football for all during the summer months.
I see this as a decent change. I also think when it proves to be hugely successful, in 3 or 4 years 'weaker counties' will lobby for some kind of plate or shield competition for counties knocked out earlier in the championship