IT is understood that Tyrone have become the first county to reject the GAA's decision to offer official status to the Gaelic Players Association.
Last week it was announced by Croke Park that after a series of discussions over the last two months, common ground had been found between the GAA and GPA. The Association statement announcing the deal said that it 'safeguards and enshrines the GAA's amateur status while at the same time affording the GPA official status and recognition as the Association's Player Representtaive Body'.
However news of the new working relationship between the bodies drew a hostile response when it was up for discussion at a county board meeting in Carrickmore on Tuesday night where a delegate from each Tyrone club was in attendance.
There was a lively debate at the meeting with a number of people speaking against the proposed link up and in the end a decision was taken to vote against it.
Tyrone's Ard-Chomhairle delegate Brendan Harkin will now express the views of the County Board at a Central Council meeting in Dublin this Saturday.
It was also confirmed at the meeting that Rocwell will continue their sponsorship of the county sides next year despite reports to the contrary.
The Pomeroy-based water company was angered at recent speculation that they had gone into liquidation. Owned by brothers Frank and Michael Quinn, Rocwell took over the Tyrone sponsorship in 2004, initially signing up for four years in a deal believed to be worth in the region of EUR700,000, before committing to a new three-year deal which started last year.
Tyrone PRO Damien Harvey said: "Our bottom line is that Rocwell have another year to run on their sponsorship deal and we are looking forward to renewing acquaintances over the next year. They are very much there and they are looking forward to their other year left.
"Anything we have been hearing is all rumour and Brian Quinn himself is keen to dispel it. They have been very good sponsors to us and have put a lot of money into Tyrone GAA and we are happy to stick with them through this."
There was mounting speculation at the end of last week that the Tyrone County Board would throw in their lot with Fermanagh haulage company Target Express.
