GAA president Seán Kelly has welcomed the weekend's decision by the Gaelic Players' Association to draw back from the prospect of a players' strike that might have wiped out the upcoming final series of NFL and NHL fixtures.

At an egm held in Portlaoise and video-linked to Belfast the GPA deferred the threat of a strike pending further consultation with its membership on the subject of welfare issues but also undertook to engage in some form of protest at next weekend's National League matches.

After Saturday's three-hour meeting of around 400 players in Portlaoise the following statement was released without further comment although a media conference will take place this morning in the Jury's Hotel Croke Park.

"The meeting has been a resounding success in that there has been unanimous agreement for a formal ballot of all members on 1 - A motion endorsing a set of player welfare standards and, 2 - A motion approving a course of action up and including withdrawal of services to seek the agreement of the GAA to these standards outlined."

Commenting on the events of the weekend Kelly yesterday said the decision not to proceed with a strike - despite a ballot that secured roughly 90 per cent approval for a boycott next weekend - would help address players' problems. "That's a good thing. I asked them to cool it and take their time and hopefully the breathing space that's there can be availed of. It's a pity that this stand-off was allowed to develop. I'd also like to thank Dessie (Farrell), who maybe reined in the more militant voices."

Kelly's presidency concludes this month but it had been decided at the end of February that GPA matters would be parked until incoming president Nickey Brennan takes charge given the profile this issue will have during his term of office.

"Nickey wanted to get his feet under the desk before looking at this and understandably asked for some breathing space. I wasn't going to deny him that and neither were Central Council but in a way it's a pity this didn't arise four or five months ago and it might have been sorted out by now."

The thrust of Saturday's meeting, which was held in camera but variously described as "militant", "baying for blood" and "angry", was that a strike wasn't the best way forward at present. Discussion included player-related issues, which will make up the substance of the above mentioned "welfare standards".

Kelly also welcomed what he saw as the shift of the debate from exclusively financial concerns to welfare and said that he was glad to see that a specific list would be submitted for debate.

"That's the way to go. Hopefully those welfare issues can be addressed because a lot of them are genuine. One thing I have always pointed out is the need for an a, b, c, d of what was wanted. That way everything can be sorted out."

This morning's media conference is expected to elaborate on the welfare issues and other matters arising from the egm.

With Kelly now effectively finished in his dealings with the GPA he reflected on the current state of relations between the GAA and players.

Having acknowledged on RTÉ radio two weeks ago that certain GAA officials were "hostile" to the players' organisation, the outgoing president yesterday added that he believed acceptance of the GPA was slowly growing within the association now that early scepticism about the players' body's staying power had proved unfounded.

"I think that it's something people originally expected of the GPA but it's been there for seven years now and has made a lot of progress. It's here to stay and I think you'd find de facto recognition of that in that there was no criticism of my congress speech last year when I pointed that players didn't want anyone else to represent them."

For the future Kelly accepts the players have a case in terms of wanting to share in the association's developing prosperity but rejects that such recognition would have to be based on breaches of the GAA's policy on pay-for-play.

"One thing has to be agreed - that when the revenue increases, it has to be shared between all concerned, including players, but that has to be done within the amateur code. There's now some welcome breathing space and these things can be discussed."