Former Tipperary goalkeeper and manager Ken Hogan says the proposal to adapt defined periods for club and inter-county action is "a no-brainer" and should be agreed by all parties.
On Wednesday night the GAA's Fixture Calendar Review Task Force will reconvene.
The task force has a number of proposals to consider, with the idea to commence the inter-county campaign in February, end that series in July, and devote the remainder of the year to the club season high on the list of many who sit on the committee.
Already the GPA has signalled its intention to propose a shorter inter-county season from next year.
Their proposal allows for 'down time’ for elite players with the final five months of the year allotted for the club game.
In making the proposal, the GPA wants to ease ‘unsustainable demands’ on players in the current structure and instead suggest a 23-week inter-county season.
"Every parish is alive and vibrant with their clubs thriving, playing games in the summer."
Two-time All-Ireland winner and former All Star Hogan says the proposal should definitely happen.
"I would most definitely be in favour of a split season," he told RTÉ Sport.
"It’s a very innovative concept and both the GPA and GAA should be lauded for the fact that they are thinking this out.
"In very tough times for our country and indeed the world, this defined club period has been a breath fresh air for us all.
"Every parish is alive and vibrant with their clubs thriving, playing games in the summer.
"In my own club I see Bonner [Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher] and all the Lorrha lads playing on one pitch. In another field the under-12s are playing and the camogie team is in another pitch.
"The club is the fulcrum of the whole association and the GAA pitch is at the heart of every parish.
"We are hearing about lockdowns everywhere but we have kept going to-date and everything has been managed so carefully.
"I would say that, based on what we have seen in 2020, a split season is a definite.
"It’s a no-brainer. To have county players involved with their clubs is just a huge boost to every parish in the country.
"It would be just fantastic if they did come up with a double season because everyone knows where they stand when it comes to games."
Thirty years after Hogan kept goal for Tipperary in the breakthrough All-Ireland senior hurling final victory over Antrim in 1989, his son Brian maintained a proud family tradition by following in the footsteps of his dad when Tipp won the 2019 title.
Hogan says he has seen Brian head out of the family home for Tipp training while his other son, former Tipp under-21 player, Cian, has headed in an entirely different direction for club training.
"I have seen it my own household. Cian is obviously hugely involved with Lorrha and you’d have Brian going out the door heading in one direction and Cian going in another. I often thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if the two could be going off together in the same car, going to the club field to train or play'.
"But the rigours of the inter-county game are such that club and county teams are constantly in a conundrum. Clubs don’t see their county players for so long and those players lose out because they don’t get the opportunity to be involved.
"So now I feel it would be a huge opportunity lost if we don’t have a split season going forward.
"We have top class stadiums, most of them are floodlit and the venues will be in great nick even come November and December. So it can be managed.
"It would be a shame if we didn’t utilise our pitches, fixtures and most of all, our greatest asset, our players.
"The double season would also give the club player an opportunity to show form to the county management."
"When you are playing sport it keeps everyone sane."
Hogan hopes that, despite growing concerns about the resurgence of the coronavirus, an inter-county championship could safely be held in 2020.
"Firstly, we have got to respect everyone’s opinion," he added.
"We are playing our games in the open, in the fresh air, and when you are playing sport it keeps everyone sane.
"An adult can view games on TV, online or even get to a pitch, while young people get a chance to express themselves. This applies to every sport.
"It’s a lot better than sitting in at home with people indoors, having house parties.
"But you just have to respect opinions. I only hope that everyone gets the opportunity to continue to play sports this year."
