Hurling's big guns have all signed a statement calling on the GAA to withdraw a proposal to exclude any county with fewer than five adult hurling teams from the Allianz Leagues.

The resistance to the proposal - which would begin from 2025 onwards - continues to grow with the teams impacted now having the public backing of the GPA and the strongest counties in the country.

All 11 captains of the counties competing in the 2024 Liam MacCarthy Cup have signed a statement calling for a u-turn.

If Central Council passes the recommendation, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Cavan, Longford and Louth would go into league exile, and consigned to the fifth-tier Lory Meagher Cup only.

A statement urging the GAA to reconsider the move was released on Friday morning, and signed by representatives of clubs in each of the five counties as well the captains of Antrim, Wexford, Kilkenny, Cork, Tipperary, Dublin, Galway, Clare, Carlow, Waterford and Limerick.

If the CCCC do not withdraw the proposal, the signatories have urged county delegates to vote it down next month.

It read: "We, the undersigned, are calling on the CCCC of the GAA, to withdraw the proposal that would see five counties excluded from the National Hurling League from 2025 onwards.

"It has become clear that the consultation referred to in the proposal was not conducted with the right people or with the correct information being discussed.

"This is clearly the case given that four of the five county boards involved are now publicly on the record calling for the proposal to be rejected. The players and management in Leitrim also want to see it rejected.

"Given that is the case, we believe it is in the best interests of everyone that the proposal be withdrawn. It is clearly divisive and while that may not have been the intention, it does nothing for the development of hurling.

"If the CCCC does not see fit to withdraw the proposal, we call on all County Boards to ensure their Central Council delegates vote it down and help us instead to grow the game we all love.

"What the proposal has sparked is a conversation about the health of the game north of the much talked about Galway to Dublin line.

"We believe an opportunity has now emerged to really tackle the issue. Therefore we, the undersigned, have all committed to engaging with county boards, the provincial councils, the GAA's CCCC and Central Council and anyone else who is interested in the health of hurling, to develop a plan to grow hurling within our counties and in other areas across Ireland where it is struggling.

"We will work with anyone and everyone constructively to secure the future of the game. That is our commitment.

"Signed: Lisbellaw St Patrick's, Erne Gaels Belleek, Lisnaskea Emmett’s, Fermanagh Senor Hurling Panel, Fermanagh Manager Joe Baldwin.

"Mullahoran St Joseph’s HC, Cootehill Celtic, East Cavan Gaels, Cavan Senior Hurling Panel, Cavan Management – Ollie Bellew and Tomás Mannion

"Carrick Hurling Club, Leitrim Senior Hurling Panel, Leitrim Manager Olcan Conway

"Knockbridge HC, Naomh Moninne HC, St Fechin’s, Louth Senor Hurling Panel

"Longford Slashers HC, Wolfe Tones, Clonguish Gaels, Longford Senior Hurling Panel, Longford Manager Adrian Moran

"Captains of Liam MacCarthy Teams in 2023: Eoghan Campbell (Antrim), Lee Chin (Wexford), Eoin Cody (Kilkenny), Seán O’Donoghue (Cork), Noel McGrath (Tipperary), Eoghan O’Donnell (Dublin), Dáíthí Burke (Galway), Tony Kelly (Clare), Paul Doyle (Carlow), Jamie Barron & Stephen Bennett (Waterford Joint Captains), Declan Hannon (Limerick)

"The National Executive Committee of the Gaelic Players Association."

Later on Friday, Louth GAA announced Trevor Hillard as their new senior hurling manager, on a two-year term.