Cork players and board opt for peace

Players' strike: In another dramatic and unexpected twist in the long-running Cork players' strike, both the county board and players' representatives agreed to a binding arbitration hearing last night under the Labour Relations Commission chief executive Kieran Mulvey, and the outcome of that process will be made known sometime today.

In a remarkably fast-tracked process, the players' representatives had earlier yesterday evening agreed to enter that process, having received the desired clarification on binding arbitration from Mulvey.

At the same time, the Cork County Board postponed their scheduled meeting, and instead also made themselves available for the arbitration hearing.

This should, at least in theory, bring an end to the lengthy and often bitter stand-off between the Cork County Board and the football and hurling panels, largely centred on the appointment of football manager Teddy Holland, and the county board insisting they appoint his selectors.

Last night was the first face-to-face meeting between the parties in recent weeks, and saw them sit down with Mulvey at a Cork hotel, after he made the journey from Dublin yesterday evening.Mulvey acted on the independent arbitration panel, and after deciding to ponder this process overnight, his decision will be announced today.

"We won't be making any further comment on this right now," said Cork press officer Bob Ryan last night.

"We will be making a statement tomorrow, and that will be our final statement on the matter."

The option of binding arbitration was seen as the last chance for Cork to keep alive their interest in the national leagues, after all previous negotiations and discussions ended in stalemate.

The footballers are due out tomorrow evening against Dublin, and the hurlers on Sunday against Waterford.

Initially, the players appeared reluctant to enter this process, which is an alternative to judges or courts settling disputes between parties, and works out a deal through an independent third party, with the arbitrator's decision agreed as final - and cannot be disputed or appealed.

In other words, whatever Mulvey decides will have to be accepted by both sides, and will finally bring an end to the increasingly difficult problems between the county board and the football panels, stretching back to last November.

The option of binding arbitration was presented by Mulvey to end the long-running players' strike at an earlier stage in the negotiations, but was only agreed, unanimously, by the county board delegates at their meeting on Tuesday night.

However, it clearly won't have been a straightforward process and decision for Mulvey, despite his vast experience in such matters.

The option of binding arbitration raised several implications, including the players' unequivocal claim that they would not return unless Teddy Holland and his four selectors "are no longer in office".

If the arbitration decides that Holland must step aside, it's still unclear how soon this could be done, given the county board have stated in the past that removing Holland is not an option open to them, given his democratic election into the position.

It's also unclear if Holland is himself bound by the arbitration process, and any possible recommendation that the manager step down may depend on whether or not he is willing to do so voluntarily.

It's also still unclear if Cork's league games this weekend will be played as scheduled. Croke Park refused to comment on the issue yesterday, although their patience was clearly running short. "This is still a matter for Cork, and whether or not they can fulfil those fixtures," said GAA spokesman Feargal McGill.

"But obviously we'd want a decision on this sooner or later, not least in respect to the interests of the opposing teams."

What is certain is that the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee will meet next Tuesday, and revisit the Cork situation.