Granted, Johnny Cash was serenading his wife, not commenting on the latest "experiments" to be dreamt up by the GAA for the forthcoming national leagues, when he penned the lyrics I Walk The Line but they carry resonance here nonetheless.

What Westmeath manager Tomás Ó Flatharta cannot fathom is why Central Council refused to consult the people directly affected before introducing a soccer-like rectangle to stop an intercounty manager wandering down the touchline.

"The GAA have not learned from the yellow card (sinbin) experiment a few years back," said Ó Flatharta. "That was a complete farce because there was no consultation with managers beforehand."

What's more, a manager's trusted advisors, as Ó Flatharta once was to Páidí Ó Sé at Westmeath, will no longer be on hand to dispense knowledge during a game as the new rules restrict the dugout to five specific people - the manager, physio, doctor, county board secretary and a new addition called the runner.

The runner, according to Central Council, "may move along the sidelines and endlines, but can only enter the field of play during a break in play to make changes and/or give instructions to players. This will mean that the team manager must remain in the dugout or its immediate environs during the game."

Ó Flatharta said he could not comprehend how this latest early season experiment would bring a renewed order to the line; instead he argued the only benefit to be gained would be monetary advantages to the GAA via fines for those moving outside the rectangle.

"The problem of too many people on the line is noticeable at club level but not intercounty. It's seems like a money-making racket to me; where the wrong people pitch-side can now be fined.

"They are taking the passion out of the game all the time. A manager has always moved up and down the line. I understand soccer and rugby coming into Croke Park but they don't need to bring their rules into our games as well."

One loophole allows the county secretary to nominate a representative in his place, although someone with basic administrative skills will still be required for substitutions.

Ó Flatharta pointed out potential difficulties in confining selectors to the stand alongside the public: "It will be a huge disruption during a game. The manager will be making his mind up on a change in a game without his selectors on hand. Will there be a separate facility for them? If a manager makes a mistake, he pays a high cost, while his selectors are in the crowd and subject to abuse. We have seen this happening in the last year, so don't be surprised."

Another experiment introduced by Central Council for the national leagues is to allow the venue committee, presumably the county board responsible for each ground, to designate the warm-up areas and four water carriers for each game.

Again, Ó Flatharta foresees a problem: "Who will do this water carrier job? Will it be four young lads who are afraid to go on to the pitch when my players are in desperate need of water to avoid dehydration?"