Dessie Farrell believes that his appointment as full-time chief executive of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) will strengthen their position at county level and put pressure on the GAA for formal recognition.

Officially announcing the appointment yesterday at a press conference in the Burlington Hotel, Donal O'Neill, a member of the GPA's executive committee, said Farrell was chosen after the a.g.m., held last November, recommended that the association seek a full-time administrator.

"We advertised, we interviewed, we had some good candidates, but within that time-frame it became more and more clear to members of the committee and members of the GPA themselves that there was one man who was really standing head and shoulders above all else in terms of his stature and his appreciation for what the GPA was about, and his leadership, and that man was Dessie Farrell."

Farrell, who prior to this held the post of chairman of the GPA, said of his new position: "My role is obviously to campaign and agitate on behalf of the players, to enhance player welfare and basically broker a better deal for players across the board."

Farrell will be pushing for recognition of the GPA as a priority during his tenure. "Our agenda going into the meeting was recognition of the GPA as the official body and that's something we will be pursuing over the next couple of meetings," he said.

"The GPA is at a sensitive situation at the moment," Farrell said. "But in the future we would like to think that we'll arrive at a situation where there's harmony between the GPA and the GAA, and that a good close working relationship can be built."

The GPA's long-term aspirations, he said, include more comprehensive player representation, although he accepted that complete coverage might not be possible.

Figures released by the GPA for last year had the association's membership at 770, but Farrell said that the figure is likely to have gone up since then.

He pointed to recent successes in attracting intercounty players, including Cork and Limerick hurlers and Monaghan footballers, as an indication that the GPA was consolidating its position.

"Obviously," said Farrell, "it would be one of the objectives of the full-time administrator to bring in as many members as possible". He estimated that 90 per cent of intercounty players would be an achievable figure.

Farrell said he envisaged the GPA developing along similar lines to the Professional Footballer's Association, which represents soccer players in the England.

Also among the GPA's priorities are the development of disciplinary procedures and the creation of educational funds and scholarships. These, he said, could be achieved through close co-operation with the GAA.

"I think obviously Dessie's role will increase dramatically," said O'Neill, "and I think his impact will increase dramatically as well. He's been a tremendous facilitator with us, and I think six to 12 months from now the GPA will be in a very different situation again."

He said the GPA had been reluctant at first to have players representing the association without the assistance of facilitators. O'Neill said that now those "choppy waters" had been passed it was time to have "Dessie up front".

Farrell has been given a three-year contract, but further details will be subject to the result of final negotiations due to take place next week.

His salary will be paid for through existing sponsorship and endorsements, but the GPA will also be seeking further sponsorship to offset the costs of full-time pay and additional administration expenses.

Initially, Farrell will be working from home but he hopes that at some point it will be possible to establish a more centralised base to operate from.Farrell said that the GPA felt it was important to appoint someone who had played the games themselves in order to gain the respect of members.

"I believe I would be held in high regard, having played the game myself and I know what the issues are for players, I know the players and I think that's very important."