"Being not happy with it all would be being polite"

February 06, 2016

Leitrim's Kevin Conlon.
©INPHO/James Crombie.

Leitrim footballer Kevin Conlon has endorsed the GPA statement which threatens a boycott of the proposed 'B' football competition.

Yesterday, the players' body confirmed that it had contacted the GAA on behalf of its members to inform the top brass that the players will refuse to play in the All-Ireland 'B' football championship for Division 4 teams if it is passed at Congress this month.

Conlon told SunSport: "It's a very clear unanimous verdict by the Division 4 teams.

"Realistically it affects teams in Division 3 and Division 4 this year. This goes against a lot of the feedback that was given, so for that reason it was insulting.

"I'm a big advocate of the GPA for a lot of reasons and I know how they felt about this. I'm very happy it's unanimous - it wouldn't have been great if it was to come back and be a split decision or not close to being unanimous.

"After the original GAA proposal it was outlined very clearly that this wasn't something the players were going to back anyway."

Conlon expressed his disappointment that the championship proposals put forward by the GPA didn't get more of a hearing inside the corridors of power.

"The GPA never put their proposal out as the be-all and end-all, there was never a perfect solution.

"They had worked so hard getting every player's and county's perspective and how they felt. There is a serious desire for change and there was a great opportunity for one big move.

"Yes it's risky, but over the course of a few years it would be tweaked and a good alternative would be found.

"It was ignored and the way it was done wasn't right from our point of view. Being not happy with it all would be being polite."


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