In recent weeks members of the CPA executive have met both an Uachtarán, John Horan & Árd Stiúrthóir Tom Ryan on two occasions to discuss the current club fixtures crisis that exists almost nationwide.

At those meetings we requested that a forum be created in order to review all fixtures and games structures from a blank sheet perspective. Last week the CPA also met with the new CCCC who were very welcoming and indeed acknowledged there is a crisis with Club Fixtures.

The request for a National Fixtures overhaul was echoed once again at all these meetings. It is long overdue and critical to the survival of our games and the future development of the Association. Our request is for the appointment of a select group consisting of experienced people from both inside and outside the GAA with the required skills sets to deal with the matter in hand. We recommend a maximum of 10 individuals with a strong independent chair. Their starting point would have to be a blank canvass. The primary objective would be to put an agreed strategic plan in place for the structure and management of the GAA's National Games Program that will bring regularity and certainty to games at all levels.

The CPA have asked that this select group should be set up immediately after this year's All- Ireland championships have concluded and would start its work immediately upon appointment. We have asked to be working members of the select group and we now await to hear from officials in Croke Park on how they will address the crisis.

CPA Chairman Micheál Briody said "Recently we have had very productive and engaging meetings with GAA senior management and we have impressed upon them the need to approach the fixture issues in a fresh and innovative way that engages members, allows people to have their voices heard and from there makes evidence based decisions for the good of all our players to safeguard our games."

"We are arguing strongly for a Select Group to be formed to address these issues that will definitively take on board the views of stakeholders. We don't think that setting up another committee or pushing forward Congress motions that haven't been adequately consulted upon can solve the issue of fixtures."

"None of us can be complacent here, not the CPA, the GAA Management or the GPA. The decisions made in the next year or two on our competition structures and the calendar must get the balance right".

Separately the CPA have announced Joan Kehoe has joined their National Executive. Joan has an outstanding GAA Background where she has served as an Administrator and Coach for her club Kilmacud Crokes. Joan is a proven high achiever with great knowledge of Strategy and Structures from her Business Life. She is currently employed in a Global role with a leading Financial Services firm. Joan's family are also heavily involved in our national games.

Welcoming Joan to the National Executive, Micheál Briody stated "The CPA has devoted itself to this work for over 18 months on a volunteer basis. We have been joined by additional volunteers in that time who have put a huge amount of work in for the greater good of our games. We have been pleased therefore in the last month to welcome Joan Kehoe onto our Executive Group. She brings a wealth of knowledge and passion and is committed to achieving change for the better".

The CPA is also releasing details of its latest survey to their members. The headline findings are that there are a range of views on whether the GAA should adopt a split season model where the season is split clearly into primarily club and county action, or a segmented season where there would be a period of club action with access to county players in March/April.

·       96% of respondents to the survey overwhelmingly agreed that there is a disconnect between the GAA hierarchy and its playing members.

·       53% would like to see a Segmented Season with a clear period of club activity including county players in March/April

·       63% would like to see the season clearly split between a county phase and club phase with county players. 

Micheál Briody said: "We are seeking to gauge opinion on the possible options that the GAA should put on the table for debate and discussion. These are options that we put out to test the waters. It shows clearly that this is a complex and difficult issue that needs the right approach to attempt to solve." 

"Again we are arguing strongly for a forum to address these fixture issues. Otherwise we are in danger of causing irreparable damage through incremental change. That approach leads to players walking away from our games. We need to engage players: the issue of a disconnection and disenfranchisement is one that we have felt and heard loud and clear since our establishment. We have flagged these issues and at times they have fallen on deaf ears".

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