Clarke feels payments will help game

Louth forward Darren Clarke feels players are not currently interested in getting paid to play for their county, but that payments to managers could benefit the game.

The issue of players and managers receiving financial benefits for their role in Gaelic Games continues to draw massive debate and Clarke believes it could be a matter of time before it is introduced by the GAA.

He told RTÉ Radio: "It is the hot topic at the moment in regards payment for managers. It is an open-ended kind of question. With the time and effort as county players that we put in, I see it myself with Louth, it is becoming four or five nights a week, and then your game at the weekend.

"Managers are in a position that they are putting in the time and the effort. It is like a job on top of a job. I suppose at the end of the day maybe managers should be entitled to something.

"I know they get entitled to expense like the players are. A little of bit of expense back towards the managers might set the thing up and keep it going right.

"The question everyone is going to ask is will it lead to professionalism within the game. I don't think particularly that it will.

"We need to keep games as elite as they are. Having a manager in place that will keep them structures in place and is employed by the county board will (help that). I feel it is going that way and that it is going to have to come out and you are going to have to show that no matter what managers are getting paid."

Clarke admits there are several benefits playing inter-county football which helps counter the increasing workload in the game, but that eventually payments may be needed to help meet the requirement.

"Players are looked after in regard of food, expenses and travel expenses," Clarke added.

"The topic never comes up amongst players themselves. You are proud to play with your county. You are privileged to play and pull on the red jersey.

"Payments for players does not really come into it but at the end of the day there are a lot of perks with playing inter-county football in regards different things like job-wise, training holidays and getting away on holidays at the end of the year.

"So from that point of view the players are probably happy to pull on the jersey and be proud to play.

"But it is something we will welcome down the line because there is a lot of effort being put in. People with young families, it is probably a young man's game now so people with young families will find it to come away from their family for training. It is a massive, massive commitment as a county player."