It is understood that the GAA is likely to appoint a facilitator to try and resolve the crisis in Cork.Whereas there has been no official statement from the association nationally in relation to the stand-off between the Cork players and the county board, concern is escalating with the start of the National League just eight days away.

According to GAA sources - one of whom described the appointment as "a likely initiative from Central Council" - the facilitator's role would not be to mediate between the sides and come up with recommendations to resolve the issue, but to act as a go-between, liaising between the parties and making sure that all possible avenues of discussion are explored.

Central Council is due to meet this weekend ahead of tomorrow's special congress to debate the reports on player burnout and club fixtures.

If a facilitator is to be appointed, he or she will have their work cut out. The row has become deeply entrenched around the issue of the new football management of Teddy Holland and his selectors.

Members of the football panel have already made it clear that they won't play for Holland because of the manner of his appointment, whereas he made clear in the Examiner this week that he would not be standing aside.

The players' stance is based on the fact that they had asked all candidates not to make themselves available for the position until the issue of whether managers or county board delegates pick selectors was resolved. Holland ignored this request whereas others didn't.

Other matters affecting the senior teams are believed to be tolerably close to solution, but until the deadlock over the football management is broken - either by the board or the players backing down - it is very difficult to see how a settlement can be reached.

Although the hurlers ostensibly have no quarrel affecting them in the immediate term - the stipulation that the county board choose selectors for future managers will according to one source in Cork "certainly be changed" by the time a decision on new hurling management is to be made after the conclusion of Gerald McCarthy's current term next autumn - they are unwilling to step away and leave the footballers to fight the battle on their own.

Already this week former All-Ireland winning captain Ben O'Connor has called on the football management to step down.

In Cork there is no meeting of the county board and executive scheduled until next week and because of this weekend's special congress in Dublin, senior officials are going to be tied up for the next couple of days.

At this stage the options are limited for the county executive. Having appointed Holland there is no way that they can reasonably renege on the appointment given that he hasn't had a training session yet, let alone taken charge for matches. Holland himself has been unmoved by calls for him to step down and the players have said that they won't return as long as he's there.

In Cork, there is a growing sense of helplessness at the ongoing dispute and a dawning realisation that it is going to take assistance to resolve the matter, which continues to be very divisive with some clubs said to be considering motions to county board calling for the withdrawal of the senior teams from the championship if they refuse to contest the leagues.

Whereas Croke Park regards the problem as primarily a local one for Cork to deal with, internally there is also a national interest in ensuring that the National Leagues aren't distorted by the county's withdrawal.

Competition sponsors Allianz were non-commital when contacted yesterday about their attitude to the National Leagues if Cork pulled out of the top flight of the NHL and Division Two of the NFL.

"It is up to the GAA to manage the National Leagues," said a spokesperson for the company, "and Allianz has no role in internal disputes. Allianz does hope that a solution can be found."

There is also a view that, regardless of the merits of the dispute, the players should step back and play while the matters are addressed.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One on Wednesday evening 1990 All-Ireland winning football captain and former manager Larry Tompkins said, "the players need to come together, meet the manager and selectors, look at the Cork jersey and say 'I am proud to wear that'."