PARTS OF THE Gaelic Players Association’s plan for overhauling the football championship could have been saved, Michael Quinlivan said as he warned that the re-introduction of a ‘B championship’ would be demoralising.
The Tipperary star helped to draw up the GPA blueprint for reform, but their radical proposal was given short shrift by the decision-makers on Central Council.
Director general Paraic Duffy said the Champions League-style plan was rejected because it would double the number of championship matches; create more lop-sided games; dilute the knockout element of the competition; and reduce the reward for winning the provincial championships.
Instead Congress will vote later this month on a motion to make some minor structural changes and, controversially, to relegate the Division 4 teams to a secondary competition.
“The thing I was a small bit disappointed about was why, if there was 16 proposals there or something like that, why couldn’t they have taken the best out of all of them and come forward with their own one?” Quinlivan said.
“That would have been something productive.
The players said that they didn’t want a B championship so [it should have been], ‘Okay, no B championship.’
“Maybe there mightn’t have been a need for a round robin; maybe you just go straight into the draw. That might have been something to look at. I’m sure they did and just decided against that.”
The process — in which the players’ voices seem to have been largely ignored — was frustrating, Quinlivan added.
“But the GAA is a democracy. At the end of the day, that’s the way it is.
“Sometimes change is slow. And it might take another couple of years before radical change like that is brought in which is disappointing if you’re playing at the time.
“But if you can leave a legacy there, you know, ‘We changed the championship to what it is now.’
Everyone is scared of change until change comes about.
And while he cautioned against any nuclear strategy which could open the door to a players’ strike, he insisted that a B championship is “definitely not the way forward.”
“It would demoralise a lot of counties,” he warned. “Nobody wants it.”
That will be mental!
What about the Scotland fans?
Should be a great occasion and atmosphere!
Ah lads, couldnt we go to Ibrox?
No guarantee it would till be “Ibrox” by then….. might belong to the Liquidators…..
Someone threw a pound on the pitch at ibrox and police are investigating whether it was a missile or a bid to buy the club :)
Pound? Bit steep for Rangers
Two home games for Ireland!
Well I’m sure the Celtic supporters will be supporting their own Country, right?
Do you think it will be a crowd made up of Irish and Celtic supporters only? Celtic supporters will support their own country anyway.
Majority of Celtic supporters support the Republic of Ireland……..
of course they will be supporting their own country, why would celtic fans in Glasgow want to support west liverchester?
Bollocks to the notion that the majority support Ireland
Surely the majority of Celtic Supporters born and raised in Scotland would support Scotland? Irish connection aside, they are a Scottish club so logic would suggest they’ll support their National side.
Exactly why would they want to support a country full of English fans
Barstoolers must be watering at the mouth, where is Glasgow in Ireland. EMBARRASSMENT”
Majority support scotland with a bit of a gra for Ireland. A smaill minority of hardcore support Ireland.
Hung if you haven’t got a breeze what you are talking about don’t comment
Where is Liverpool, Manchester, London or Newcastle in Ireland. The last time I checked there was no ban on people supporting which ever team they want to…………
Frankie Boyle will be delighted.
Can’t wait for it#COYBIG
Session on
Yeah once the session is on and we have the ‘craic’ sure the match itself is only secondary … Je*us wept
Screw the session chris, looks like someone thinks you’re one of the players.
Jackie Macs testimonial with a game against Ireland was fantastic, even the zombies stayed in hiding and didn’t cause any trouble, Glasgow truly was Green & White that weekend
More fans in the Scotland will know the words of the irish national anthem than in the irish end
Hail hail……..
not since celtic played arsenal in a CL qualifier a few years back has there been so many EPL fans packed into the away end at celtic park
Home from Home.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that now!
Scotland could be an independent country by the time the
match comes around, if they vote ” yes ” to leaving the U.K.
In the referendum in September.
They better make sure that they have the required license needed before they sell tickets
That joke was boring last week
Apparently street sellers in Glasgow have ordered hundreds of green St Georges cross flags that play the match of the day tune when you wave them for the ole ole brigade
Surprised they’ve not taken the opportunity to play some qualifiers in the Capital. Oh well, a train journey and a trip to dark head it is!
None of the stadiums are big enough, apart from the rugby one. I doubt the Scottish FA want to be knocking on their door when they have a bigger stadium in a city which cares more about football.
Why not? They’ve played Internationals in Easter Road before. Murrayfield is a nicer ground than any other in Scotland. It’s not a secret that the SFA will be paying Celtic and Sevco handsomely for use of the grounds, which they probably wouldn’t have had to do at Murrayfield. The chances of Celtic Park being filled are near enough 0 anyway.
Cares more about football? Tell that to any Hibs, Hearts or Aberdeen fan and they’ll tell you that’s rubbish. Supporting Celtic and “The” Rangers is the easy option in Scotland, just because they’ve more fans doesn’t mean Glasgow cares more about football.
The game is in Paradise not in the egg chasers ranch, dry your eyes and move on
That will be some shit game
That will be some sing off ( oh and match of course)