Now is the time for the Gaelic Players Association emerge from the shadows and be a positive voice for players in the GAA according to former Cavan goalkeeper Alan O'Mara.
The shot-stopper is currently living in New York, though injury has ruled him out of competing for the side this season, and Skyped into OTB AM headquarters this week to chat to Adrian Barry about life in the city, but talk soon turned the work of the GPA.
O'Mara, who has worked closely with the organisation in the past, has lauded the work being done by the GPA in recent years, but said that there's a lot more work to be done.
"I would have been working part-time with the GPA last year as a player engagement officer, and would have done a lot of work meeting guys one-to-one. I think that's the first point I would make about the GPA, they do a huge amount of work developing players as people. It's something that's not always fully known or appreciated. The reason I'm in New York is by some of those programmes and pursing professional passions and careers that I didn't even know existed before".
"I think the GPA, in terms of moving forward, there's a good opportunity there to re-emerge from the shadows a little bit and become that kind of prominent voice again that will passionately represent players. With us helping to campaign and advocate for the GAA we hear lots of whispers, we hear lots of conversations with people not enjoying it or not playing anymore. There's just negative conversations all of the time and there's an opportunity there to be a positive voice and grab the bull by the horns and campaign for whatever it is that players want".
Whether those concerns are over monetary compensation, fixtures and schedules, or the divide between club and county, O'Mara says now is the time for players to band together under the GPA banner and attempt to force change.
"A quote I would regularly use is 'the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack'. Over the last number of years the GPA has done incredible work building up individuals in terms of their own career".
"It's time to come together as a group again and try and be that strong positive influence for change".
When asked whether the GPA views the Club Players Association as a threat to the work being done by the organisation, O'Mara said that there's room for both groups, especially if they work together for the betterment of the game and the conditions for the players.
"I think it's a scenario where people just have to work together. Everyone has the same kind of passion, everyone has the same kind of will for a change whatever that is. If everyone just said 'there's no point, there's no fix' then what are we even doing talking about it?"
"Between those two bodies the GPA has the players' backs and the players are rallying behind that and really want something. People will have to sit up and take notice. Same goes for the CPA, they're representing two fundamental bodies in the organisation, but unless you articulate your opinions and campaign for change then it's never going to happen. That can be frustrating at times I'm sure, but those bodies need to keep up the good fight and keep pushing on".
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