In what they describe as an exclusive, the Irish Mail on Sunday's Philip Lanigan says the chief executive has revealed the ultimate aim of the Gaelic Players' Association - to take full ownership of player welfare from Croke Park.
It claims that Far
rell outlined the GPA's blueprint for the future as one in which the GAA would help fund it as the official players' body - and allow it to look after all player welfare issues.
'What we are saying to the GAA is: let us take control of the player welfare function. We're dedicated to that. That's out only business, our core business. We don't have anything else to worry about. And let us roll out the initiatives.
'But, to do it properly and comprehensively, we need the funding to be provided from the GAA - instead of the two of us doing ad hoc initiatives. It's the way it works everywhere else - the AFL, the PFA, in the States, it's the same.'
Apparently, approaching the 10th anniversary of the GPA's arrival on the scene, all the items on Farrell's agenda would be in line with the GAA's amateurism guidelines, including those rolled out in the recent past - a new employment service for inter-county players at www.gpajobs.com and a business mentoring service at www.mentors.ie.
As regards the criticism by GAA president Nickey Brennan at Congress in April for his group daring to seek a percentage of the association's income to fund any initiatives, Farrell insisted that there has to be movement in this direction.
'They know that we have ambitious plans in that regard. What is holding us back is the level of funding.
'This needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Instead of the two of us doing piecemeal initiatives, let's do something properly" said Farrell.
The arguments look strong and convincing if viewed from Farrell's side of the fence; but, from this angle, I'm no closer to finding any merit in the GPA's continued existence. I'm afraid it still looks very much an elitist organisation, serving no purpose whatsoever for the overwhelming majority of players, those who won't even get within smelling distance of a county jersey.
All that article does for me is confirm what I have always believed: Dessie wants to run the show for the players, without interference from those who currently call the shots for ALL players. And, of course, he's no quitter off the field any more than he was on it.
