A NEW era in Gaelic games is imminent as the GAA looks set to extensively revamp its amateur status for the first time in its 113-year history. In a move that was mould-breaking - but not unexpected - the association's amateur status committee recommended yesterday that players be allowed earn money from their profiles as GAA stars.

This recommendation was the key element in a series of proposals drawn up by the committee after a wide-ranging review of the amateur issue.

Under the chairmanship of former GAA president, Peter Quinn, the committee recommended that "Players be allowed benefit from off-field activities including product endorsement, but excluding playing gear and products in competition with national, company or own club sponsors".

The recommendation is one of nine, covering issues from expenses to holiday funds and insurance, that will be discussed by the GAA's Central Council at annual congress in Dublin on Friday.

The council is being asked to adopt these recommendations but with such fundamental issues at stake, it is felt that it could take a series of meetings before all matters are agreed - a final decision this Friday is unlikely.

The committee's recommendation on product-endorsement was welcomed by Kilkenny hurling star DJ Carey. "It's obviously a step forward," he said. "I don't think it's breaking anyone's amateur status - it just means we can endorse a product and get paid for it. If rugby and soccer players can do it, why can't we?

It is envisaged that a percentage of the money earned by high-profile stars will be diverted to a collective players' fund, but that percentage has yet to be decided.

The committee was set up last November in response to the arrival of the Pro-Active sports management company into the Irish market. Headed by Kevin Moran, the former Dublin footballer and Republic of Ireland soccer international, Pro-Active represents the interests of several soccer players in England. Moran said they hoped to represent GAA players, along with other Irish sports people - Dublin star Jason Sherlock was quickly signed up.

The committee, however, hash firmly rejected the idea of players having personal agents. It recommends that "no player be allowed appoint a personal agent, but that the GAA establish its own internal structure at central level to promote product endorsement by players

It has yet to be clarified how this "internal structure" would work - or who would work it but one possible scenario is that the GAA would hire a specialist company, or appoint personnel with the necessary expertise, to represent the interests of players.

Whether the GAA, legally, could prevent players from hiring personal agents to enhance their earning power is open to debate. "I don't think there is anything to prevent the GAA from setting the parameters to professionalism," said Dublin solicitor Niall Clancy, who won an All-Ireland club medal with Kilmacud Crokes in 1995. "But once they open the door and allow individuals to earn money they probably would have difficulties there. It's possibly anti-competitive and restrictive practice.

Jerry Kelly, managing director. of Pro-Active in Ireland, said further clarification was needed. "We've said all along that in order for this to be a success it will have to be done in conjunction, with the GAA. But we need toe understand what the internal structures are that the GAA is going to put in place.

"We understand and accept that the GAA would want to take control of what's going on within its own organisation, but equally they would not want to be involved in restrictive practice either."

The committee's report revealed that more than half of the county boards are in debt to varying degrees. The problem is particularly acute among counties on the western seaboard.

It is felt that payment to senior county team managers has sapped the resources of some boards and, as a means of curbing this, the committee recommended that managers receive the same expenses as players. Quinn rejected the suggestion that this recommendation was more aspirational than realistic given the reputed willingness of boards to hire managers at inflated rates.

"Our entire report is aspirational if Central Council adopts it but the counties aren't prepared to implement it. If they don't it will have been a waste of time," he said.

In the case of players' expenses, it recommended that they be paid a minimum of 18p per mile, up to a maximum of 30p.