The GAA is re-examining the question of amateur status. A secret committee was appointed less than two months ago to advise president SeáMcCague on the subject of amateurism, reports Seán Moran.

"He decided to form a sub-committee of people from within the association and outside it who would have negotiating skills to look into the whole question and advise on room for manoeuvre, as it were," according to one Management Committee source.

Although the identity of the sub-committee is being kept out of the public arena it has been established that former Dublin manager Kevin Heffernan is one of those appointed.

McCague's decision was taken within the framework of the GAA's discussions with the Gaelic Players' Association, which feature the GPA proposal for a €127 per week payment to intercounty players as expenses for time lost during the preparation for and participation in senior championships.

The issue erupted on another front within the last week, which has seen Cork hurlers and footballers go on strike for a list of demands including compensation for missing work on intercounty duty.

During a debate on the matter at last Tuesday's county board meeting Cork secretary Frank Murphy made reference to the McCague sub-committee when the players' demand was under discussion.

How much latitude the GAA rules on amateurism offer is open to question.

The Amateur Status report of 1997 recommended that players be allowed benefit from media work and product endorsement. Compensation for missed work, broken-time payments, were not recommended by the Amateur Status committee chaired by Peter Quinn.

It's not clear when the sub-committee will report but presumably it will be sooner rather than later as the GAA hopes to reach some sort of accommodation with the GPA.