O'Neill opts to move on from GPA

Donal O'Neill has outlined his reasons for stepping down as commercial director of the Gaelic Players' Association (GPA), claiming his work was effectively done and it was time for a fresh challenge.

It wasn't a "resignation", he said, but more of a "reassignment". O'Neill made the announcement at last weekend's agm, also making it clear his move had nothing to do with the ongoing impasse surrounding the implementation of the proposed Government funding of €5 million in player grant aid.

"Essentially, my job was to set up a management company to fund the GPA," O'Neill explained yesterday, "and in that regard my work is done. We appointed a board of trustees at the agm and I effectively handed the company over to them.

"And that company is solvent for the next six or seven years. The deals are structured to ensure that. It's at the stage now where turnover is around €1 million a year and that's growing. When we started out that was the challenge for me, to get the commercial side working so that the positions such as Dessie Farrell as chief executive could be funded, and that's all been done.

"So, personally, I do feel I've done as much as I can. The GPA has become more of a political force now, and that's the way the association needs to go. In other words, going forward the GPA is going to be more about the business of politics, as opposed to the commercial side."

The timing of O'Neill's departure, at such a critical juncture in the negotiations between the GPA, the GAA and the Government, is hardly ideal, but he insists it will have no impact on the implementation of the grants.

"I was involved in some of those negotiations early on, but in fact I've backed away over the past 12 months . . . that's why people like Donal Óg Cusack and Kieran McGeeney got more involved. But look, all the work on the grants issue is fantastic.

"One of the things the GPA was always accused of was being an elitist association, that we only helped the elite group of players, and I probably had something to do with that. So something had to be done for the multitude, and that's exactly what the grants are all about."

O'Neill was one of the founding members of the GPA in 1999, becoming one of its main spokesmen and influences. His previous experience with sports marketing giants IMG gave him the natural commercial flair, and over the past seven years he helped secure all of the main GPA deals, including Carphone Warehouse, Club Energise, Opel and, more recently, with Halifax bank."

The GPA will continue to be in the news as the outcome of the ballot for strike action, over the impasse of the grants, is expected soon, possibly by the end of the week.

In recent days however, Farrell has indicated progress has been made between the GPA, the Government and the GAA, and a strike could still be averted, even if the ballot is passed: "We felt the nuclear option was required to focus minds," said Farrell, "and to get people to engage in a meaningful fashion.

"I believe that has started to happen now. While it's somewhat late, it's better late than never and I believe that a resolution can be found."

WeekendFixtures

SATURDAY

Connacht Club SHC semi-final (replay): Athleague (Roscommon) v Ballina (Mayo), Athleague, 1.30pm.

Women's Football - All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final: Carnacon (Mayo) v Ballyboden St Endas (Dublin), Clogher, 2pm.

Sunday

Leinster Club SFC quarter-finals: St Vincent's (Dublin) v Seneschalstown (Meath), Parnell Park, 3pm; Moorefield (Kildare) v Dromard (Longford), Newbridge, 2.30pm; Éire Óg (Carlow) v Tyrrellspass (Westmeath), Carlow, 2.30pm; St Patrick's (Louth) v Portlaoise (Laois), Dundalk, 2.30pm.

Leinster Club SHC quarter-final: Ballyboden St Enda's (Dublin) v Oulart-the-Ballagh (Wexford), Parnell Park, 1.30pm.

Connacht Club SFC semi-finals: Tourlestrane (Sligo) v Ballina (Mayo), Ballina, 2pm; Killererin (Galway) v St Brigid's (Roscommon), Tuam, 2pm.

Munster Club SFC quarter-finals: Nemo Rangers (Cork) v Moyle Rovers (Tipperary), Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2pm; Lissycasey (Clare) v Kilcummin (Kerry), Ennis, 2pm.

Ulster Club SFC quarter-final (replay): Mayobridge (Down) v Dromore (Tyrone), Newry, 2pm.

Kerry SFC final: South Kerry v Feale Rangers, Tralee, 2.45pm.

Limerick SHC final: Adare v Croom, Gaelic Grounds, 2pm.

Waterford SFC final: Ardmore v Ballinacourty, Walsh Park, 2pm.

Wicklow SFC final (replay): Baltinglass v Rathnew, Aughrim, 2pm.

Women's Football - All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final: Inch Rovers (Cork) v Errigal Ciarán (Tyrone), Killeagh, 2pm.