Earlier today, GPA Secretary Paul Flynn hit back at Colm O'Rourke's comments on the GPA, claiming his comments were "unfair" and highlighted the important role the GPA have played in helping people's lives through counselling and the awarding of scholarships.
O'Rourke was on Newstalk's Off The Ball tonight, where he further clarified his opinion of the GPA.
He believes that while the GPA's work in the areas of health and wellbeing are commendable, the association are not focussed on what their primary aim should be: the representing of players' in terms of the playing of the game.
I think the GPA have to set out what their vision of the organisation is. I don't see a clear vision.
The most important thing surrounding any union, or whatever they call themselves, is a vision of the playing of the games and it must start with a proper fixtures plan.
They have made no progress in that respect.
O'Rourke believes that many of the health issues the GPA concern themselves about is as a result of their failure to affect change regarding the structure of competitions.
They are putting the cart before the case.
A lot of the problems about stress and anxiety that are emanating from games is due to an improper game sturcture which puts too much pressure on young players, where there is far too much training and the game is interfering with their own personal lives.
Anyone who is helping out with areas of mental health are to be commended.
But that's not their role.
Their role should be to look after the playing end of things, and with that and a properly planned structure, a lot of the other problems, I think, could be lessened.
If you don't stand up for players rights, then why are you in existence at all?
They are not set up to provide counselling and life skills, that's not the role. That's something that has developed later on.
The rights of players have to be embodied in a game structure.
That's what it's about. If thats not happening, I dont see the raison d'etre for their existence at all.
O'Rourke agreed that the GPA's recent games proposal should have been given more consideration by the Central Council, with its dismissal out of hand indicative of, in O'Rourke's opinion, "what the GAA at central level really think of them".
The Sunday Game analyst also bemoaned the shift in focus surrounding the sport, saying that the 'fun' ethos of the game has been lost amid the turgid structures:
Football should be about enjoyment. It's a relief away from study and work.
But now you see players talking in terms of sacrifice, work and hardship. Nobody ever says this is fantastic, we are playing football, we're enjoying training.
The whole lifestyle versus football balance has become totally warped in favour of a regime of total slavery to the game, and that's not what it's supposed to be.
The fun cannot be gotten back to until the fixture list, particularly in the Spring, is addressed.
You can listen to a lengthy and interesting interview that also went into depth on O'Rourke's playing days on the Newstalk website, here.
