Saturday's meeting of the GAA's Central Council has left the door open for Offaly to escape relegation to Division Two of the National Hurling League. It was announced that a special congress in the autumn will consider proposals "to streamline the hurling championship and NHL".

Offaly were relegated after losing a play-off with All-Ireland finalists Limerick last May and despite intensive lobbying to have the demotion over-ruled, the situation stood.

Current moves to rationalise the intercounty programme in order to create additional scope for club fixtures may, however, come to Offaly's rescue.

Páraic Duffy, the GAA's Player Welfare Officer and author of the discussion document, which will be the basis of the special congress proposals, has already indicated that the NHL should ideally occupy less space in the games calendar, which could well mean a return to a 12-team Division One, organised into two sections and a consequent reprieve for Offaly.

At Saturday's meeting, GAA president Nickey Brennan reported that the process of appointing a new Director General in succession to Liam Mulvihill had already started.

Advertisements for the post will appear in the national media next month and, according to the president, an appointment will be made before the end of the year.

In recognition of the workload involved in central administration, a new role of Director of Operations - effectively a deputy for the DG - is being created. This post will be advertised simultaneously.

Central Council also approved a proposal from the management committee of a new and very significant investment at grassroots level. In the region of €38 million, revenue substantially derived from the playing of soccer and rugby internationals in Croke Park, is to be invested - in addition to the association's ongoing investment in coaching, games development, infrastructure and player welfare.

The primary aim is to provide enhanced and new facilities for players at all levels and in all areas.