Devenney hits out at insurance curb plans
Ex-donegal ace insists GAA has a duty to remunerate injured players
A FORMER Donegal and Irish League favourite has warned the GAA that to drop their insurance wage cover for injured players would send out a very poor message about the amateur status.
Brendan Devenney, who won a National League with Donegal in 2007 as well as performing in the Irish League for Portadown and Omagh Town, had to have a hip replacement operation this time last year.
It was long overdue. In late 2009, he retired from county football as he needed it at that stage, but opted to go without and nursed himself through a couple more seasons with his club, St Eunan’s, which would have contributed to the wear and tear of the hip joint.
Devenney received some financial assistance through the Gaelic Player’s Association, who have funds set aside for this purpose.
But an idea floated back in December that the GAA might end the insurance policy that covered a portion of players’ wages while they were incapable of work through injury has received a serious level of opposition among county boards.
At Saturday’s meeting of Central Council, the GAA’S finance director Ger Mulryan conceded that discussions were ongoing with insurance brokers Marsh to restore the policy or, if they have to consider a new process, that players would sign up to independently.
In 2020, the existing arrangement cost the association £803,000, and forecasts had predicted losses of over £1million in 2021.
Working as a sales representative, Devenney had no need for wage cover as he was able to do his work remotely, but he recognises that many in physical jobs would be at a severe disadvantage if the GAA stopped the wage cover which amounts to £258 a week.
“It goes back to the whole thing about amateurism and where it’s at and the money that is in the GAA,” says Devenney, who is a renowned and insightful pundit on Gaelic football for BBC Radio Ulster.
“The GAA are never going to make a decision to pay players and the money is not there to do that kind of thing. But therefore, if there is a massive amount of money being generated, they need to look after people. And that means medical care and expenses.”
He also feels the association may be feeling additional anxiety after recording a loss of £30 million in 2020 with the effects of coronavirus.
“That’s the one thing they have to get right,” adds Devenney.
“I would urge them not to
make a knee-jerk reaction now, just because things have gone a bit tough with the pandemic.
“It will come back. Fans will come back and people will come back in numbers and pay in to watch games.
“So if the GAA are going to remain amateur, they must prioritise care for their players above all else.
“We all know what players are doing in terms of putting their bodies on the line so, if they do end up injured, they need to be looked after and they cannot be out of pocket with their wages.”
The former Donegal man continues: “There is a whole bigger picture around this.
“If you look at the nature of a player and their club, what that
does and is among the community if he is a county player. Now, there is a lot of people proud of their status.
“There is a lot of money being made and other facets to it.
“So if one player out of 25 needs some assistance in the team, then they are the unlucky ones. For whatever reason, there has been a breakdown in the body.
“They cannot be out on their own to deal with this when they are part of an organisation. These people are probably helping out in their club, coaching youngsters and doing all sorts of different things.
“So as an organisation, if these people need help, that’s the one thing the GAA could do.”
‘Players cannot be out on their own to deal with this’