The Club Players Association have stated that they "cannot support" fixture proposals made by GAA director general Pairic Duffy.
The new body released a statement in which they also appealed to county boards to vote in favour of recognising the CPA when Congress convenes in February.
"The CPA is today announcing that it cannot support the fixtures proposals brought forward by Páraic Duffy. We are therefore calling on Páraic to put his ideas on hold pending further consideration. We respect Páraic’s position over the last nineyears as Director General and his immense experience as a professional GAA official," said the CPA.
The body outlined three factors behind their decision, including that the proposals would be "detrimental to hurling" and that they "pre date the establishment of the Club Players’ Association".
CPA chairman Micheal Briody called for Duffy to "park" his proposals in order to allow for more consultation.
"We are calling on Páraic Duffy to park his proposals pending proper consultation. We have had a very positive response since our official launch. Over 15,000 club players have registered so far. Their expectation is that the GAA will step up to the plate and address the fixtures issue for all players. If the current proposals are passed, there will be no realistic possibility to change until the 2019 season at the earliest. By then it could be too late. This needs sorted now," said Briody.
"We have had several informal discussions with the director-general Páraic Duffy at which we have exchanged views. We appreciate greatly Páraic taking time to meet us and recognise the legitimacy of the CPA."
In August, Duffy outlined proposals to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship that would see the quarter final stage of the competition replaced by two groups of four teams each that would have the effect of forcing a "condensing of the fixtures".
In their statement, the CPA have called for the establishment of a Fixtures Think Tank that would be engaged in consultation on matters related to a reform of the GAA fixtures programme.
The CPA was officially launched on January 9th.
Speaking to Off The Ball on the launch date, CPA Fixtures Co-ordinator Liam Griffin said of their aims: "Somebody needs to fix the fixtures and we need to address it as a major issue in the GAA."
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